I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in some mighty fine homes that were beautiful but sterile. Nothing beats the smell of baking bread, cookies, or cake, and the sound of laughter and chitchat. This is what I think of when I envision an Amish home, the physical center of Amish life. Most important Amish functions take place in the home, rather than recreation centers, churches, funeral parlors, or nursing homes.
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| Our son’s most delicious hazelnut torte! |
Although the Amish use hospitals and modern medicine many Amish women prefer to give birth in the familiar setting of their home. In their last hours, most Amish wish to pass from this life to the next at home. And although a deceased Amish person is taken to a mortuary for preparation, the body will be returned for the viewing and funeral.
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| In this area, Amish are not allowed to ride regular bicycles. |
The Amish go to great efforts to preserve their family and closeness. They choose not to have central heating, which draws their children into the warmth of the sitting/living room and kitchen to hang out and play board games. They opt out of having a telephone so people are more apt to visit them in person. They do not own cars that give the younger generation a quick getaway. And the older folks too. (Although they may hire drivers.) The Amish choose not to have electricity in their homes, to be connected to the grid that ties us English (non-Amish) together and makes using the Internet all too easy. And their one-room schoolhouses are for the most part within walking distance. For the Amish, preserving the closeness of the family is extremely important.
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| Laundry Day |
I recall when my sons got their driver’s licenses. Off they went! Half of me was grateful I didn’t need to drive them to soccer practices anymore, but the other half missed my opportunities for real conversation. We did not allow computers in the bedrooms, so at least they had to come to our computer room where my husband often worked. This was in the days before texting. I don’t know how parents manage now.
How about you? Did you or do you have tactics for drawing your kids, spouse, or friends into your home? What is the hub of your residence? After a meal, does everyone disperse to different ends of the house to watch TV or text? Are you one of them? Maybe you’re thrilled for a few moments of solitude after a long day’s work.
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| What to bring your hostess when you pay her a call. |
Please leave me your thoughts. Should you wish to enter to win a signed copy of either Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork also leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win. USA and Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations, Mary E., winner of the Amish-made purse and a signed copy of either Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork! Thank you, everyone who left a comment! I wanted all of you to win.
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| Coming June 1, 2014 |
I’d love to see all those chocolates this morning! I’d like to read the Pennsylvania Patchwork. Thank you, Annette
So would I, Annette! Love chocolate with coffee … or anything. And I’d love you to read one of my books! Thanks for writing.
I was lucky i live on pa so i got to go to lancaster and they have a place you can tour the amish way of living i so enjoyed it then thrre were lil building to buy goodies . well let me tell you those lady csn cook and we go to a few place for the pies that wet bottom shoo gly pie is so yummy. I love everything about the amish way of life.Im in lancaster as much as i can .Im sickly now so i may go one time a year to lancaster.we have a meal there and go to all kinds of shops. I love to cook and bake and love family closeness i should have been amish. I love the amish and so happy thete coming out with amish books to read i will own everyone of them.
We keep our family close by making family dinner time manadtory at least five days a week. I would love to win one of your books! mzieli01@Yahoo.com
You are wise, Marg! Family dinner time is so very important and in the busyness of life it’s often neglected. I’ve even heard that children who eat dinner with their parents have higher IQs. But family closeness and sharing values is more important. Thanks for writing and entering the contest!
I love their sense of community. How everyone pulls together to help each other in times of need.
Me too, Joan. Even living with neighbors close by, very few people enjoy the sense of community and know that others will step right in to help them if needed. Thanks for writing!
Hi Kate,I just wanted to enter your contest and I read the review about the Amish folks and their preference for home as being their favorite gathering place for family functions.I too was grateful when my children got their license,but I too was relieved that I didn’t have to run them here and there but I was always worried until they were safe back at home ,at least to begin with.Also I raised 5 children and as they all married ,they would always come to our house on the different holidays and it was always centered around a meal but oh ,what memories and I wouldn’t take anything for these memories.I would like to share this with you,I am old enough ,but I too remember when some of my family members were taken to get ready for their burial and then brought back to their home for family and friends to view.I was small but I still remember that,it was a little creepy for a young child but as I look back on it now ,we were not so different from the Amish.Also our families gathered at our grandparents home for special occasions as well ,we had our own ball teams ,when we all got together.It’s sad to say ,but when the Matrons of the families pass on,the family kind of break apart.I miss all of that and I’ll bet if we knew more about our families,we would have a lot more in common with the Amish..You don’t know how to appreciate things ,until they are gone.Thanks,Linda
Hi, Linda! What a wonderful family you have/had. So true that we often don’t appreciate our blessings until they are gone. Thank you for writing. I enjoyed reading about your family’s traditions.
When my kids were home we sat at the table and ate dinner & talked about their day. Then after dinner they did home work at the kitchen table while my husband and I was right there with them. They come home about once a month now and I fix a meal and we play board games. I would love to win one of you books. Thanks marbaby1964@yahoo.com
Thanks for writing and entering the contest! I can picture you at your table chatting over dinner and then your kids doing their homework. And you still play board games. What fun! Good luck!
Always liked family dinners growing up.
Kathy Faberge
Finulhour@sbcglobal.net
Family dinners are the best, Kathy, but I hear they’re a dying breed. Thanks for writing and entering the contest. Good luck!
I sometimes wish that we could go back to the “olden days”. “Back then”, we shared meals together, took Sunday afternoon drives, and went visiting family, friends, & neighbors. Stores were not open on Sundays because we had “Blue Laws” in Pennsylvania. Oh, how I wish that the younger generation could experience this. Family was very important to us. We did not have to be on the internet and text to be with the “in crowd”. Oh….for the “good old days”!!!
Elaine Shorb tinkerbell2by2@gmail.com
I agree, Elaine, that the good old days were the best! We had blue laws too when I was a child and my father refused to buy a TV for many years. And no Internet, not that I don’t enjoy it immensely. But we actually sat around the dinner table and had discussions. Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck to you
A nice reminder of the family qualities of the Amish lifestyle – we could all learn to adapt a little to their way of life. I always made sure we all sat down at the table for dinner together when the children were growing up. And I visited each child before bed at night to check in one on one with them – just listening is a great way to stay connected . I would love to win one of your books. My email is babykf629 at gmail dot com
Thanks for entering the contest, Kim! You are so right; there’s not enough listening anymore unless it’s to the TV set, etc. How wonderful that you sat down at dinner together and visited with each child at bedtime. Good luck!
We only had 1 TV & no internet when our 6 kids were young . I tried to get games for their Christmas presents every year . Seemed like we were always busy with sports & band . I’m glad we didn’t have internet back then .
When I was young we played more games & sat on the porch and sang with the neighbor kids . My dad even went out in the street with all us neighbor kids and played soft boll . I miss those days .
Sounds like you had a great childhood & some awesome memories of your Dad, Mary. I, too, miss those days when we spent time outdoors with our friends & didn’t have all the electronics, etc. that today’s kids have. We didn’t own a TV when I was kid. My folks got one about five months after I left for college. There was just my Sis & me and she had already left home too. God bless you Mary. Hope you have a blessed week. From another Mary.
Hi Mary! Our kids had sports teams, video games, you name it, vying for their attention. Although we ate meals together, it became more and more difficult to spend time without interruptions, one reason we still don’t have a TV at our beach cabin, where our kids and their friends spent much time outside playing. Thanks for writing!
Hi Mary E! Thanks for writing your dear note to Mary Rabatin! Two fabulous Marys! We have a small basketball court across the street from us, property owned by the state. I enjoy watching the kids play out there even on rainy days, and whole families gathering. The sound of children’s laughter outside is becoming a rarity.
We spend our time together doing things, like errands, cooking or watching a movie. My grown daughter and hubby like sitting on the edge of the bed and talk for hours.
brides68@yahoo.com
It sounds as though you’ve left a wonderful legacy, Wen! Not enough time is spent with children talking for hours. And when they become teenagers, sometimes those opportunities vanish as their friends become more important. Thank you for entering the contest and good luck!
We made sure dinner was family time and that at least one weekend a month was strictly for family. We all had our chance to decide what was going to be done that weekend ( roller skating, movies, museums,etc). My daughter and I still continue the tradition…and she is on her own.
A fabulous tradition, Darlene! How wonderful that your daughter carries it on. Thank you for writing!
We still have Sunday dinner every week at our parents.
trichieATwindstreamDOTcom
That sounds so wonderful, Trichie! I can’t help being a little jealous. Thank you for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
and we all wanted to win, love to read amish stories. thanks for sharing and congrats to the winner.
Paula O
I appreciate you, Paula, and all those who love to read, especially Amish stories. Thanks for writing!
When I was growing up we always had dinner together every night and Sunday afternoon. We would go for Sunday drives to visit friends and relatives. It was a much more peaceful and happy time back then, children today just don’t get to experience the things we did back then and it’s a shame. I would love to go back to simpler times.
kcrouse1950@verizon.net
I agree, Kathi, those were the days. Especially in your household; it sounds ideal. Kids miss out on so much these days by the diminished amount of family time. Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
Before I had an empty nest we always had dinner together and usually the boys did their own things like play football, or ride bikes or just go out in the farm fields and walk around if they weren’t riding their horses. In early evening we would sit in kitchen and talk while they had a snack. Best times I remember.
The Amish have a lot of priorities I wish we all had today, Enjoyed your post. ould love to win any of your books . Thank you
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
Your life with your sons sounds marvelous, Jackie! And they had horses? Sigh. I can imagine you have many fond memories. I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
Hi Kate! I keep trying to win one of your books! Maybe one day I will be lucky. Sure hope so. Love your blog and your thoughts. Although my kids are grown, the grandkids live really, really close and we have lots of opportunities to be with them.
Well, Sonja, I keep hoping you’ll win! Since I choose randomly, I never know who the winner will be. No one in my area of the country has won anything from me, to my knowledge. It’s always a surprise! Thanks for your kind words on my blog post, grandma! Grandparents can be extremely important. Thank you for entering the contest again and good luck!
cooking meals
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the contest. Good luck!
Love to win nothing better than a good Amish book to enjoy! bsparkplug3@gmail.com
Blessings……
I would love to have you win, Becky! Thank you for faithfully entering the contests. Good luck to you!
We gather at the table and that is where we get together during the day.In the evening we gather in the living room for an hour or two to talk,play games or watch tv.I love the ways of the amish.I think we could all learn from them.jackie_tessnair@yahoo.com
We could all learn from you too, Jackie! it sounds like you have a wonderful life and I congratulate you. Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
It is just me and hubby now but we always set at the table for our meals. and when grandkids are here they too must join us at the table for meals.
Just my husband and me at the table too, Sharma, except on rare occasions when we have visitors, adult children or grandkids. Fortunately my husband and I get along great or it wouldn’t be any fun at all. Thanks for writing!
My husband works evenings but our weekends if he isn’t working Saturday we put aside whatever we do separately during the week and spend time together. I would so love to win one of your books!
Sounds like you have a wonderful husband and marriage, Ruth! A huge achievement. Thanks for writing!
I would like very much to win either Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork . . . I thoroughly enjoy reading Amish books. Thank you! jynhoffman@yahoo.com
Thanks for entering the contest and good luck! I’d be delighted to have you read one of my books!
Someone brought in homemade bread yesterday to work. It was gone in a hurry, but I doubt one would hurry to grab some if it was store bought!
Here is my email, I always forget…Sonja.nishimoto at gmail dot com
Isn’t that the truth, Sonja? Nothing better than homemade bread!