We Have Become Too Soft
Life today has become relatively easy for most in terms of physical labor. We sit at a desk and spend much of the day looking at a computer screen; forced to get our exercise at the gym, on a treadmill at home or going for a walk. Some have become so engrossed in electronic games, television or their phones that they don't get any physical activity in their day. Today's children would never survive in the world of the 1800's or early 1900's. In fact, many adults wouldn't either.
Many children of this era had to help support their family, so they were put to work at an early age. If they lived in the city then they would be sent to work in factories instead of going to school, and those that lived in the country worked on farms. Children between the ages of seven and twelve made up one-third of the factory workforce during this time period. And if your family owned a farm, children as young as 5 began assisting with farm work.
Men worked long days; far more than the typical 8-hour work day we know today. If they worked in factories it would not be uncommon to work 60-70 hours a week, and the pay would just barely be enough to provide for their family. If they owned farms then their days were filled with back breaking physical labor planting fields and taking care of the animals, and it didn't matter if the weather was bad; they still had to get the chores completed.
Women were not spared hard work. They were responsible for taking care of the home doing laundry, cooking, sewing, cleaning and any other necessary task. Some did all of this and sometimes helped with other farm chores. Many living in urban areas worked in factories alongside the men.
Growing up we had chores at home. It was expected that we would help with laundry, cooking, mowing the lawn, and cleaning the house, and I ensured that my children were taught all these things. This is how we learned to do the things that would allow us to take care of ourselves when we became adults. But the true value of these chores was knowing what hard work is, the pride of a job well done, and learning to be responsible.
I'm not saying we should take our children out of school and put them to work in factories, but I do think it would be good for every child to spend a month on a farm at least once in their life. Not only to learn the value of hard work, but also to learn to take pride in a job well done. Perhaps some adults would benefit from doing the same thing.
If we continue to spend our time sitting, we may find some day that we cannot move at all. So, let's get moving, get our children moving, and find the joy and satisfaction from working hard and seeing the results of our labor.
Many children of this era had to help support their family, so they were put to work at an early age. If they lived in the city then they would be sent to work in factories instead of going to school, and those that lived in the country worked on farms. Children between the ages of seven and twelve made up one-third of the factory workforce during this time period. And if your family owned a farm, children as young as 5 began assisting with farm work.
Men worked long days; far more than the typical 8-hour work day we know today. If they worked in factories it would not be uncommon to work 60-70 hours a week, and the pay would just barely be enough to provide for their family. If they owned farms then their days were filled with back breaking physical labor planting fields and taking care of the animals, and it didn't matter if the weather was bad; they still had to get the chores completed.
Women were not spared hard work. They were responsible for taking care of the home doing laundry, cooking, sewing, cleaning and any other necessary task. Some did all of this and sometimes helped with other farm chores. Many living in urban areas worked in factories alongside the men.
Growing up we had chores at home. It was expected that we would help with laundry, cooking, mowing the lawn, and cleaning the house, and I ensured that my children were taught all these things. This is how we learned to do the things that would allow us to take care of ourselves when we became adults. But the true value of these chores was knowing what hard work is, the pride of a job well done, and learning to be responsible.
I'm not saying we should take our children out of school and put them to work in factories, but I do think it would be good for every child to spend a month on a farm at least once in their life. Not only to learn the value of hard work, but also to learn to take pride in a job well done. Perhaps some adults would benefit from doing the same thing.
If we continue to spend our time sitting, we may find some day that we cannot move at all. So, let's get moving, get our children moving, and find the joy and satisfaction from working hard and seeing the results of our labor.
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