Early Chores and Childhood at Home

Dear Friend,

We hope this last week of May has treated you well. Here in the Heartland, the days have been seasonal in temperature, with clouds drifting through with dodging raindrops being a shared activity. Many families hurried to cultivate their gardens early in the week before the expected wet weather arrived. The soil was soft enough to work, and there was a shared hope that the showers would speed up the germination of any seeds that had not yet sprouted. It has been the kind of week that feels familiar to anyone who has lived through many Springs, where the weather keeps everyone guessing and the work must be done between passing showers.

As we continue our series on growing up Amish, this week brings us into the earliest years at home, when chores were first introduced and childhood memories were shaped by simple tasks that carried more meaning than a young child could understand at the time. One Amish woman who shared her memories with us this week offered only a few details, but they opened a window into a world where responsibility begins early and where even the smallest hands find a place in the daily work of the home.

She remembered being about five years old when she was first asked to help carry water for the hogs. The farm pond was the only source for that chore, and she would walk out onto the dock with a small bucket, dip it into the water, and carry it back to the pen. It was not the safest task for a child that age, and she admitted that she had to be careful as she leaned over the edge. She did not recall falling in, but she remembered the feeling of trying to keep the water from splashing out as she made her way across the yard. Those early trips taught her patience long before she knew the word for it. The bucket was small, but the number of trips felt endless to a child.

Washing dishes was another early chore, and it became one of her favorites. She remembered standing on a chair at the sink while her older siblings were at school. The warm water, the clatter of plates, and the sense of being trusted made her feel important. She said it was fun until her brothers and sisters came home and scolded her for not being finished yet. Even so, she looked back on those moments with fondness. It was the first time she felt she had a place in the flow of the household.

Some chores were not given until she was older. Doing the laundry alone was one of them. Her mother believed that certain tasks required more strength and understanding, and she waited until her daughter was ready. Other chores changed with the Seasons. She enjoyed mowing the lawn during the Summer, when the long days made outdoor work feel pleasant. The steady hum of the mower and the smell of fresh cut grass became part of her childhood memories.

She also remembered trailing after her grandfather as he worked. He was patient, although she admitted he did not always enjoy answering her constant questions. Still, those moments taught her to observe quietly and to learn by watching. Amish children often spend time with grandparents, and many learn their first lessons in responsibility from them. It is common for little ones to help gather eggs, carry kindling, or sweep the porch while listening to stories about earlier years.

Much of what Amish children learn at home comes from repetition and gentle guidance. Parents rarely give long explanations. Instead, they show the work, expect it to be done, and offer quiet encouragement. Pride in one’s work is not spoken of directly, since pride is considered a vice, but children learn to take care in what they do. A well swept floor or a neatly stacked pile of firewood becomes its own reward.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

Here are a few of the most notable moments from the families who weave the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com, shared with us this week.

The Mast Family

The Mast family has been watching their garden take shape between the passing Spring rains, but it is their youngest daughter who has shown the most devotion to her little corner. She planted the seeds her schoolteacher gave her, then added a border of flower seeds she received for Christmas, along with a few extras borrowed from a friend down the road. Her parents loaned her seed potatoes and onion plants, and she proudly tucked those in as well. Because her plot sits on a higher rise, it dries faster than the rest of the garden, allowing her to stay ahead of the weeds while the lower rows remain too wet to hoe. She checks her plants each morning with quiet excitement, pleased that her small patch is thriving.

The Borntrager Family

There was a bit of excitement at the Borntrager home this week when their oldest son set out to help a neighbor expand a garden. He hitched the plow to the forecart and started down the public road, keeping close to the edge as he traveled downhill. The plow began sliding toward the ditch and slipped in far enough to snap the wooden tongue. Alton heard his son calling to the horse and walked down to find the plow upright again. With a hint of humor he asked whether this was an accident or if the ditch needed plowing. His son grinned and said he had simply decided to plow the road ditch for fun. The good-natured exchange brought a light moment to an otherwise soggy Spring week.

"Paths are lonely many times, hearts are heavy too, but you can never walk alone for God is there with you."

- Amish Wisdom Overheard in the Community