A Little Life

“The mother has then so much in her power
that she can not only determine to a great extend what kind of infancy the child shall have,
but also whether her own duties therein shall be heavy or light.

 

{preparing dinner before 8:30 a.m. in the morning;
this daily habit makes my day run so much more smoothly}

{Lariah is held and loved by so many!}

By attending strictly to her own health, adhering to natural laws,
living simply and wholesomely, she can alsmost ensure the bodily health of the child;

{bread dough rising on my Hoosier}

and by keeping her mind calm and even, avoiding worry, and cultivating cheerfulness and contentment, she thus moulds the disposition of the child to a far greater extend than she dreams of.

{a flight of fancy, making cupcakes one afternoon for the little ones}

The woman who lives in a condition of perpetual nervous excitement and worry
before the birth of her child, who is fretful, complaining, impatient of the discomfort of her condition, need not be much surprised if her baby be fretful and difficult to rear. 

{Lavender, holding her little sister while reading to mommy in the quiet of my bedroom}

 

It is not too much to ask from thoughtful Christian women,
who at heart feel their responsibility and their high privilege, than nothing shall be lacking on their part to make the child given to them by God a moral, mental, and physical success.

{dressed for church; a beautiful hand knit sweater from my sweet neighbour!}

{10 babies and this will never get old to me! Thank you, Lord, for my blessings!}

We are careful in all other departments of life to try and obtain the best — why not here?
Is the human life less precious, human souls of less account, than merchandise?”

~ Courtship, Marriage and the Gentle Art of Home-Making
1894

 

{a blissful moment of Luther and Lariah napping together in my room}