My parents raised seven children, and I was the third. I had two older sisters and four younger brothers. Yes, my mom had five energetic boys to manage every day. She was a saint for sure!
There was about an eighteen-year age gap between the oldest and youngest. Needless to say, my mom’s days were busy, nonstop, and often chaotic.
A Busy Day at Home
When our dad came home from work, Mom could finally slow down a little. She would prepare dinner and take care of the younger children. After dinner, Mom and Dad would sit in the living room and talk about their day.
Life was very different in the 1960s. When Mom went grocery shopping, bought clothes, or ran errands, she usually had most, if not all, of us with her.
Taking seven children along was no small task!
The Day I Got Lost
I remember one particular store we visited often. It sold almost everything, from clothing to food. Of course, my favorite place was the toy aisle!
Whenever we arrived, Mom gave us the same instructions. She told us that if we got lost, we should go to the front of the store. Then we had to find a checker and tell them we were looking for our mom.
One day, I stood in the toy aisle and became completely fascinated by a toy. Mom called me several times, but I was not listening.
When I finally looked up, Mom and all my siblings were gone.
I searched the store but could not find them. So, I went to the checker and followed Mom’s instructions. The checker made an announcement over the store speaker.
My face turned red with embarrassment.
Mom did not come right away. The female checker looked at me and asked, “Are you sure your mom is still here?”
“I don’t know,” I replied.
About ten minutes later, Mom and my siblings finally appeared. She had finished her shopping and pushed a large cart overflowing with groceries and other items, most of them for us kids.
Mom looked at me and calmly said, “Tom, next time I say come along, come along.”
Believe me, I learned my lesson!
And, by the way, I was not the only sibling who ever got lost and had to go to the checker.
Raising Kids Without Today’s Convenience
Back then, parents did not have the conveniences we enjoy today. Mom was mostly on her own. Sometimes, she would call another mom to ask for advice.
There was no internet to help her find information in seconds. There were no family websites offering reviews and recommendations. Finding a good product, a sale, a kid-friendly restaurant, a tutor, or a dentist often took time and effort.
There were no websites to help parents find Kid Friendly Venues (KFV).
Instead, Mom relied on the Yellow Pages, the telephone on the wall, and word of mouth. She asked other parents what they liked and trusted their recommendations.
By the time Mom was thirty-one, she had five children. Her days were certainly busy, and I imagine many of them felt chaotic.
Moms Have Always Been Resourceful
Despite all those challenges, Mom managed to keep our family moving. She found ways to get things done without the technology and resources parents have today.
Moms in the 1960s were resilient and resourceful. In many ways, moms today are just as resilient and resourceful.
The difference is that today’s parents have more tools to make everyday life easier.
How Can MomKidFriendly.com Help?
That is where MomKidFriendly.com comes in.
Our goal is to build a shared, one-stop site for parents, carers, and grandparents. We want to make it easier to find useful information, family-friendly activities, and helpful resources.
We hope our site can take away some of the daily searching and planning that can make family life feel chaotic.
Stay tuned as we continue to grow.
Until then, we hope you enjoy our blogs and the stories we share about family life, parenting, and finding kid-friendly places to enjoy together.
