A day in the life of a local Amish family

The wife of this local Amish family will be identified as "L" and for the sake of this article, we'll call her husband "J."

"L" and "J" live in house that they built from the ground up, on a 40-acre farm that was part of "J's" father's property. They have five children. The oldest (referred to as "A" in this article) is a 7-year-old boy. Their home is modest, functional and immaculate.

Amish families get an early start to their day, waking about 4:30 to 5 a.m. "If we oversleep, we really have to hustle," laughed "L."

A kerosene lamp lights their darkened home, while the wife, husband and oldest son get dressed and ready themselves to begin a long, hot summer day.

By 6 a.m., "L" and "J" are almost finished with the tedious morning chore of milking their dairy cows. Sitting on three-legged stools on each side of the cow, the couple straddles two buckets as they milk the old-fashioned way - by hand.

"A" is busy taking care of two small calves, as it's his responsibility to feed them and clean up their pen area.

Afterwards, he soon got busy hitching up the horse and buggy so it would be ready for his father to make his morning trip to the milk dumping station. Amish families only keep enough milk for their daily use, and the rest is sold. To keep this family's milk cool during the day, it was put in an old freezer (without the electrical parts) and immersed in water.

As "J" headed out on his two- to three-mile journey to the dumping station, "L" kicked off her mud boots, donned a clean cooking apron, and scurried about to get breakfast prepared. She explained that today her husband would be working away from the farm, and she needed to get breakfast going and also pack his lunch. The Amish construction crew's hired driver would arrive with the van to pick him up by 7:30.

Since there is no refrigeration, the Amish eat very little fresh meat. Very seldom would their breakfast include bacon or sausage. But since they have their own chicken houses, fresh eggs are plentiful for a hearty meal. Along with fried potatoes and fresh milk, "L" also fixed what she said was a main Amish breakfast dish, 'coffee soup.' The hot soup drink is prepared with milk, coffee and a little sugar, to which some people add bread or crackers.

On a cooler day, meals are prepared on the wood stove in the kitchen. But on this muggy July morning, "L" decided to use her kerosene stove instead. This stove was located in a side room, in what she called her "summer kitchen," a room that also doubled as her wash room.

While breakfast was cooking, "L" woke up her four younger children. Faces and hands were washed, and stray hairs were tucked underneath bonnets and hats. (Note: Amish boys sometimes do not wear their hats around the house, although they always put them on before leaving the farm or riding in the buggy. Amish girls wear their bonnets almost constantly.)

One young daughter was quick to set the table, while another one fetched the milk and crackers.

By shortly after 7 a.m., "J" was back from his buggy trip, and breakfast was on the table. Some idle conversation took place between members of the family, all in Swiss. The family prayed silently both prior to and after their meal, due to the presence of the Mail. Normally the children would have said their prayers out loud.

As the van drove in to pick up "J," all the children carried their dishes to the sink - the older ones assisting their younger siblings. "A" carried his father's lunch bucket and thermos outside, where he waved good-bye to his dad, and prepared himself to be 'the man of the house' for the day.

This day would be a particularly busy one for "L." She had been away from home for several days, helping out at her sister's house, which put her behind on her own housework.

First on her list of chores was to clean up the kitchen, but she also ticked off other things she wanted to accomplish that day: Sweeping the floors (which is done everyday), laundry, picking of vegetables in the garden (she doubted she'd have time for any weeding, which also needed to be done), canning of beets, making pickle relish, gathering eggs and several other farm chores.

Her day would also include making lunch and dinner, and watching after her five children (one of which is just over 18 months old, and already in the process of being potty-trained).

Amish women are just like "English" women in one respect - some are just better housekeepers than others. "L" could teach us all a thing or two. Even without any modern conveniences, she was a model of efficiency.

First, we headed to the basement to draw water from the cistern. The collected rainwater is used for doing dishes, laundry and bathing. Well water is reserved for drinking and cooking. She said normally "J" would get the water and do some of the heavy work for her, but since he wasn't home, "L" didn't think twice about doing it herself.

She explained that an Amish man "is not to expect too much heavy work from his wife," and that a portion of the Amish wedding ceremony even addresses this issue.

While the water for dirty dishes and laundry was heating on kerosene stoves, "L" went about sweeping the hardwood floors throughout the house. She paused to make the beds, all the while gathering up clothes that needed to be laundered, tucking them under an arm as she moved through the house, laughing and talking as she went.

Once the water was heated, the breakfast dishes were washed with the care one might scrub surgical instruments; the sink and table wiped spotless. "L" said major cleaning - such as mopping the floors and cleaning furniture - is usually done once a week, as part of what the Amish call "Saturday work." Saturday is also the day that Amish mothers like to wash and braid their younger daughters' hair.

By mid-morning of this day, "L" had finished morning chores, had her family fed, the house and kitchen clean, and had begun the first of six loads of laundry that she would have done by noon.

To an outsider, there is a noticeable lack of home accessories in an Amish home. There isn't any artwork on the walls, no family pictures on end tables, no knick-knacks of any kind. "L" said that the Amish don't believe in decorating.

"We don't put anything in a house just for looks. We keep it simple … just what we use." - L.

She went on to say that Amish homes are built from used lumber, secondhand windows if they can be found, and damaged drywall. "After it's patched and painted, it looks like new," she added.

Most Amish homes are laid out in basically the same way. They have a large kitchen and combination dining area, a living room, and normally the parents' bedroom on the main floor.

The living rooms usually have an upright desk, a couple of rocking chairs and several straightback chairs, which are always lined up around the walls. Simple white curtains are pulled to one side of the front windows once the family is up for the day. Most Amish homes that were visited had screens on the windows, but several were observed that did not.

Side rooms are attached for summer cooking use, and many had separate wash houses.

There is no indoor plumbing or bathrooms. The kitchen has a hand pump for washing hands and faces. Bathing is done in a large tub in the wash room or wash house. It was while discussing bathing that "L" took offense, and spoke out about what she said was a common mistake regarding the cleanliness of the Amish.

Especially in the summertime, she said, at which time the children commonly have more than one bath a day - usually in combination with some playtime in the tub.

Younger children sleep in the living room — several to a bed - where they are close to their parent's room. As they get older, (about the time they begin school) they'll be moved to their own bedrooms upstairs.

What English would call the 'master bedroom' is actually a very small room, consisting of only the bare necessities. There is a double bed with simple bedding, blue curtains and two small wardrobes. The children's clothing and the families everyday work clothes are in one; the woman's dresses, better Sunday clothes and appropriate funeral dress are in the other.

A wind-up clock is the only furnishing on a small nightstand. There is no need for a makeup dresser or a jewelry box - the Amish wear no jewelry, not even wedding rings.

There are no mirrors in the bedroom or on any of the walls. "L" did point out a small one that was hung on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. The only wall décor are simple wooden shelves that hold a clock or a kerosene lantern, or perhaps a towel rack in the kitchen.

Many of the furnishings are handmade by members of the family who are adept in carpentry.

Sorting laundry, "L" explained that she no longer had to use a washboard, as she had recently purchased a new Amish made washing machine. The machine utilized a paddle, which agitated the water, soap and clothing, much the same way as a modern electric washing machine. Except this one was hand-powered, driven by constant back-and-forth motions with a handle attached to the paddle. Although she does purchase some powered soap, "L" used lye soap for the really soiled laundry. She said she didn't know what she'd do without her lye soap, which she makes herself.

While their mother was busy cleaning and washing, all five barefooted children were running had pretty much taken care of themselves. "A" had been at the barn, turning out the horses and mucking stalls. "L" said her son "likes to help his father with the chores," especially working with the horses. She thinks her son will grow to become a real horseman.

Besides helping to hang the clothes on the line to dry, the younger children had been playing and entertaining each other. Amish children are raised to look after one another, and it comes quite naturally for older children to help take care of the younger ones. They had an assortment of dolls and small toys, which they took out of a toy box one at a time, returning it as soon as they went on to something else.

At the sound of a cry or a highly excited shriek that didn't sound quite right, "L" would stop what she was doing to check on the children. With a soft soothing voice, she would inquire as to what was wrong, but she didn't coddle them. After a kiss on the cheek, a pat on the head and a rub on a stubbed toe, the children went back to playing, and "L" went back to work.

These Amish children very seldom needed their mother's attention, and were quite content to go about their day unsupervised. (They were told to ignore the Mail's presence, which they did.) To an English outsider, the children seemed to be remarkably self-sufficient and 'low maintenance' - especially at their young ages.

After preparing a lunch of chocolate milk and peanut butter sandwiches, the smaller children laid down for a nap. Although he may have been tired himself - after all, he'd been up early and had been working all morning - "A" didn't lay down. Pragmatic in her approach, "L" said that her son would be going back to school soon, and he couldn't nap there, so he mustn't get used to it.

The young boy helped his mother in the garden throughout the afternoon, picking red beets and other vegetables that needed attention. "L" said her younger children also liked to help in the garden, but a couple of them were yet too young "to know a green bean from a weed."

While the beets were cooking for canning, "A" and "L" took turns cranking a vegetable grinder, chopping up cucumbers that would be used to make relish. She really needed to make some vegetable soup, but "L" was afraid that job would have to wait for another day, along with the mending of the family's clothes, which is a good rainy day project.

By early afternoon, it was starting to really warm up inside the house, but "L" continued her work without complaint.

"I try not to grumble about my work … I usually enjoy it. I'm thankful I'm healthy enough to do it." - "L"

Throughout the afternoon, the Mail had the opportunity to talk to "L" regarding a number of other issues, including the elderly in an Amish community.

The Amish people have about the same life expectancy as English people do, with many living into their 80s and 90s. Considering their lifetime of hard, physical labor, and the childbirth rate, this seems remarkable. Amish women commonly have 10-15 children, as birth control is only allowed in cases of life or death.

The Amish are allowed to visit doctors, and in fact, they are regular customers at several chiropractic offices around the county.

When the Amish get older, they don't retire totally, as many still keep an eye over the farm or family business to make sure their children are running them properly.

Many families will build a smaller house for their elderly parents, called a "Daddy house" (that is translated, the Amish pronounce it "daughty"). It is usually the main responsibility of the youngest son, (who then moves into the larger home) to care for his parents.

"It takes time to care for the elderly, but putting them in a nursing home … that just seems as if we don't care about them." - L

The Amish have land on their own property that is deeded and reserved for private cemeteries.

During the late afternoon, thoughts had turned as to what to make for dinner. Just the other night, "L" said she had made a blueberry cobbler that served as the family's main dinner dish.

Tonight would probably be something simple. A common Amish dinner might consist of canned meat, potatoes, fresh or home-canned vegetables and bread. The meat could be pork (when Amish hogs are butchered, unlike English methods, the skin is kept), beef or chicken.

After a beef cow is slaughtered, the meat is pressure cooked and canned. Dairy cows are also butchered if they are no longer producing, or have milk that is unusable.

Chickens are also sometimes butchered, but most are kept for their eggs, and fryers are purchased at a grocery store.

Or, one might have liver pudding, which "L" described as an Amish staple. It consists of pork and beef that have been cooked and scraped off the bones. It is then ground along with the liver and heart of the animal, cooked and canned.

Rather than spending much time worrying about dinner, "L" decided on this day to go ahead and get the evening chores started. Her husband would be home around 5 p.m., and he would be busy even after he got home. He would need to take the milk to the dumping station before dinner, along with some hogs that he was selling to another family up the road.

There is much to be done around an Amish home in the summertime — hay, oats, wheat and corn for silage in the field, and a garden full of sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, squash, green beans, red beets, carrots, tomatoes and watermelon.

So, "L," with the help of her oldest son, proceeded to feed the hogs, cows and horses, gather eggs and milk the cows - all before she started to prepare supper for her family of seven.

After dinner, it was time to bathe the children and get them ready for bed. During the summer, everyone is busy outdoors, but cold weather evening activities might include a game of Scrabble or checkers. Most Amish families are in bed by 9 p.m., earlier in the wintertime.

If Amish life sounds like all work and no play, a lot of it is. However, they do have community activities that are enjoyable, and many take fun, short trips with their children. Several local families said they had recently hired drivers to take them on out of town excursions, such as the Springfield zoo and even Branson (no, they didn't attend any musical shows).

One Amish woman admitted it was a treat to stay in a hotel room on an out of town trip, and "L" said she did enjoy the air conditioning of stores that the family frequents. But, she added, getting used to that would only make it harder to come home and work outdoors or inside without it.

"L" doesn't have an easy life, but it seems to be a fulfilling one. She is content, and couldn't imagine living her life non-Amish.

"It seems our lives are less demanding (than the English lifestyle). Yes, I work hard … but I wouldn't want any other life." - L

The Amish people accept others as they are, without attempting to judge or convert them to the Amish culture. They are respectful of our way of life. Hopefully residents and travelers of Webster County will be respectful of theirs.

Our apologies for any mistakes or misinterpretations of the Amish faith … I fear a few things may have "lost something in the translation."

The Mail thanks the many Amish families who cooperated with us for this series of articles, by allowing us into their fields, businesses and homes.

A thank you also to Phil DeMasters, Seymour. The use of his name initiated trust within the Amish community, and his introductions opened more than one Amish door.

Most of all, my personal thanks to "M," "S" and "L," along with their families. You were all so gracious. Your attitudes were inspirational, and your feelings and views toward what the English deem the "necessities of life" were sobering.

"L," you made "A day in the life of an Amish family" - for this reporter - an incredible experience.

“Some idle conversation took place between members of the family, all in Swiss.”

I don’t think Swiss is a language.

3 posted on 01/03/2021 12:17:24 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (Guide me, O thou great redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land.)

I was in a heavily Amish community a few years back looking for a hay baler in a farm equipment dealership. The dealer told me that the Amish there wouldn’t dare OWN mechanical equipment but they sure didn’t mind borrowing someone else’s!

7 posted on 01/03/2021 12:26:31 PM PST by BipolarBob (Money can't buy you happiness but it can buy you ammo. That's pretty much the same thing.)

Swiss German is a distinctive variant, like Colombian Spanish or Australian English.

8 posted on 01/03/2021 12:28:12 PM PST by Tax-chick (O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice, come and shine on us!)

9 posted on 01/03/2021 12:40:30 PM PST by dynachrome ( “The people have spoken . . . and they must be punished.” Ed Koch)

10 posted on 01/03/2021 12:46:00 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)

"Pennsylvania Dutch"

Deutsche is what they were actually saying. Englishers heard it and thought they were saying "dutch".

“The Amish girls wear their bonnets almost constantly.”
You would think that may cause their hair to become thin and wispy, due to little light or fresh air.
But what do I know. I’m virtually bald!

This is one detail the author got wrong. What she called “bonnets” were actually prayer coverings and in most groups, that means a thin white or black fairly sheer fabric. Their actual bonnets, which resemble the old sunbonnets, are worn when they leave the house to go to town, or church.
This varies so widely among the different Amish groups that one simply cannot make a blanket statement. In Ohio, some church districts require girls who have not yet joined the church to wear black coverings, but some don’t.
https://amishamerica.com/amish-womens-head-coverings/

Thanks for the info. I didn’t think that statement was correct. About certain issues, the Amish have always seemed rustic but quite practical.

I have lived the high life (private planes, limousines, yachts, etc.) and the not-so-high life. Two things I have learned:

1. Life's simple pleasures are indeed the best; and

2. 'tis better to live on the corner of a roof than in a large mansion with a contentious woman.

I think the Amish have things mostly figured out.

There are a bunch of them right next door, they basically speak German, Pennsylvania Dutch is just an informal name, it’s German mixed with some English words.

The writer is confused. It’s more Old High German. For instance, PA Dutch is simply a dialect of “Deutsche”.

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