[Mad Dawgg]

"I would agree that the older children on the farm years ago would be an asset but you are discounting way to much the extra work that the younger children would have been before they became an asset...remember that there were no microwaves, dish washers, clothes washers, disposable diapers, modern furnaces (chop some more wood to keep the baby warm), etc...and a much lower percentage lived long enough to become an asset. And yet people years ago kept having children even with all the extra work...maybe they valued the family over stuff more then we are willing to give them credit for...or maybe they understood that children were a blessing and were willing to except the work that went with the blessing..."

Tiny children yes, they were more work however so are babies of all types on a farm. My father milked the cows on his grandfather's farm starting at age 7. From then on he worked. Most wouldn't allow one so young to do such labors today but as my Dad said he didn't do stuff like milk cows or hunt squirrels at that age because his mother was trying to teach him values she had him doing such so him and his younger brothers had enough food to eat.

But I agree with you on the family values of today.

Most would rather have the newest cars and the latest i-Gadgets than spend money on raising more children.

[WorldviewDad]

Thanks for the reply...As a father of seven that also runs a “hobby” farm I can understand your dad milking cows at seven. We just bought a family milk cow for our 18 year old daughter (top thing on her birthday wish list), and she will be working with her nine year old sister to show her how to milk the cow (the nine year old wants to learn). The younger children keep asking to do more with the animals and they will gradually get more involved as they mature...kids that want to learn and work...there might be hope for the future yet...