The article makes it sound like is his experience is rare. I have a cousin who teaches Amish children in rural upstate NY (they come to public schools for a couple years to learn English). She is invited to some of their homes regularly.
I attend Amish auctions and some communal activities with her as a guest. The are all very friendly and kind. They have many children and its normal that older siblings will be seen taking care of younger ones. I am struck how CALM and at ease their children are. Teenage boys in big groups are quiet, not boisterous, rambunctious or hyperactive. Their girls are not nervous or fidgety. They all have long attention spans and are socially adept.
They are polite as a rule but elders will scowl or ignore you if you have alcohol on your breath. Then I wonder why you set up your tray of delicious peanut brittle and cheese in front of a tavern (instead of setting up at the weekly farmer's market, which I still don't understand), my Amish dude, but whatever. It is what it is.
We have had extensive barn work done by Amish crews, excellent, unsurpassed.
you can tell their houses cause the window trim’s are always painted white
well, that and there’s no electric/phone line going to the house
sometimes a phone on a pole near the road
people make good money here from them carting them around to and fro...