As is probably obvious to just about everyone by now, we have (and are going to have) a large family. How large? Well, that is the subject for another post, but the definition of "large family" varies by who you talk to anyway.
So what does homesteading have to offer a large family? Well, not that long ago, people didn't have much control of how large their family got, but the large family offered the homestead manpower. It's a bit of a moot point for us though, because we don't homestead to make a living, so we do it to the level we can handle, and no more. Sure, having more kids means more work can be done, (bigger gardens can be grown, etc) but since you have more kids you have to grow more food anyway, so it cancels itself out.
The overall advantages of homesteading to children were outlined in my "Why Homestead" post in August. Those, of course, carry over for large families, but it's really the aspects of large families that homesteading highlights and enhances that I want to focus on.
In large families, children must learn that they are part of a team. Individual wants and desires many times have to take a back seat to the needs of the family. This is an ideal way to teach a child selflessness and consideration for others. Children are, by nature, selfish. They think primarily of themselves and have yet to learn the value in thinking of others first. Usually children learn this virtue when interacting with other children or their siblings. In a large family, they also learn that the family must come before themselves as well. If their is a giant pile of dishes in the sink, they may have to put off reading or playing until it is done. It is unsanitary and uncitely to leave those dishes there and Regina or I can not be expected to do everything.
It is simply the fact that the amount of work around a homestead is greater and that the focus of the homestead is on producing food for the family, that make this "selflessness for the famiy's sake" aspect even more prevelant. The children are not milking, or mowing, or gardening simply because we don't want to do it, but because without their help it would not get done, and the end result benefits the whole family.
I would agree with anyone who said that a child's life should not consist of work, work, and more work. They should be given time to play, explore, and use their imagination. It is not our intent to use our kids as forced labor, and have their lives consist of only work and studies. However, just as there is value in play, there is also value in work. It is that point which we wish to highlight to the children, and from which they will gain character, integrity, and a good work ethic.
So what does homesteading have to offer a large family? Well, not that long ago, people didn't have much control of how large their family got, but the large family offered the homestead manpower. It's a bit of a moot point for us though, because we don't homestead to make a living, so we do it to the level we can handle, and no more. Sure, having more kids means more work can be done, (bigger gardens can be grown, etc) but since you have more kids you have to grow more food anyway, so it cancels itself out.
The overall advantages of homesteading to children were outlined in my "Why Homestead" post in August. Those, of course, carry over for large families, but it's really the aspects of large families that homesteading highlights and enhances that I want to focus on.
In large families, children must learn that they are part of a team. Individual wants and desires many times have to take a back seat to the needs of the family. This is an ideal way to teach a child selflessness and consideration for others. Children are, by nature, selfish. They think primarily of themselves and have yet to learn the value in thinking of others first. Usually children learn this virtue when interacting with other children or their siblings. In a large family, they also learn that the family must come before themselves as well. If their is a giant pile of dishes in the sink, they may have to put off reading or playing until it is done. It is unsanitary and uncitely to leave those dishes there and Regina or I can not be expected to do everything.
It is simply the fact that the amount of work around a homestead is greater and that the focus of the homestead is on producing food for the family, that make this "selflessness for the famiy's sake" aspect even more prevelant. The children are not milking, or mowing, or gardening simply because we don't want to do it, but because without their help it would not get done, and the end result benefits the whole family.
I would agree with anyone who said that a child's life should not consist of work, work, and more work. They should be given time to play, explore, and use their imagination. It is not our intent to use our kids as forced labor, and have their lives consist of only work and studies. However, just as there is value in play, there is also value in work. It is that point which we wish to highlight to the children, and from which they will gain character, integrity, and a good work ethic.
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