A Brief History of the American Family

There was a time when most folks lived in an extended family environment. Several generations—at least three—lived together, worked together, and shared life’s ups and downs together. Of course much of the USA was still an agrarian society, but even city folks lived in an extended family environment. It was taken for granted that a family unit was there to share.

The old folks took care of the little ones and told them the rich stories of their family’s past. They instilled in them a sense of continuity and a strong value system. There was more than one person to do the chores like the cooking and cleaning. Recipes were taught first-hand and handed down through the generations.

Everyone did what they were capable of doing, and chances are that when you died, you died in your own home with a loved one by your side. This was a time when folks were present to say hello to a new generation and good-bye to an old one.

Yes…people made time for such things.

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