@Kate Ellery - they talked, they interacted Played cards, board games. Went for days out. Went for long walks Socialised. So many things that kept them occupied
Catholics have lots of children because they were NOT allowed to use birth control. My parents probably wouldn't have wanted the internet. They were to busy working, raising children, taking care of their homes and yards, growing food and shopping for what they could grow and cooking most of that food from scratch. They were busy parenting, teaching, taking to Church, and playing with the children they did have instead of passing those jobs on to others. There wasn't a bunch of "couch potatoes" in their time...even with kids. As much as I like the Internet and find if very useful in so many ways these days....I am glad that when I was young it did not exist because life back then was so meaningful to me just the way it was.
They had to work so hard that they didn't have time to be bored. But I guess they did have time for a little hanky panky. They had 14 children.
@Babs Hunt "because they were allowed to use birth control" Did you mean this facetiously, or mistakenly, as birth control was actually forbidden by the Catholic Church. It was one of several issues present when my Fiance and I were preparing to marry, she Catholic, me, non-. Frank
Yes I agree we made our own fun as children ..no iPad or laptops back then .. agree with you @Frank Sanoica re catholic they were forbidden to,take the pill .. I went to a catholic school until I was 13 ..until my mother took me out of the school because of severely swollen hands after the whole class was hit on the top of their hands with a steel edge ruler for not owing up who was taking in class.
@Kate Ellery Kate, your story is identical to what happened in our local Catholic grammar school. The backs of kids' hands were beat upon by rulers, while held palm down on the desk. Frank
@Frank Sanoica Actually I meant to say "because they were NOT allowed to use birth control" so thanks for bringing this to my attention so I could go back and add the "NOT" to my post. As a former Catholic by birth and not of my own choosing I know very well what the Catholic Church had to say about using birth control. My Dad was a "die hard" Catholic until my Mom almost died giving birth to her 13th child (4 which she miscarried). The Doctor told my Dad he could either listen to the Catholic Church and his wife would be dead and he would be raising nine or more live children by himself...or he could abstain from sex with my Mom or go buy some condoms and enjoy his life with his wife and children. I'll let you guess what option he chose...but here's a clue...when my dad died he left behind a wife and nine children.
My paternal side were Gaelic Highland protestants, and my father was one of 16 kids... My mother was a Catholic of Irish descent and was one of 9
Since Catholicism goes pretty far back in History...we probably all have a "touch" of that in all of us! Large families were more the norm in the past because a lot of people lived off the land and their "sons" and daughters helped them sustain that life. Also having a lot of children was a blessing back then and a sign of fertility. Could you just imagine how much farm life would have "thrived" if the internet got in the way!
I had to keep Inventory on 3 x 5 index cards and type out or handwrite Purchase Orders. Filling out UPS and FED X Shipping Book. Much easier doing on a computer. Compared to doing those two things on a computer, I'd take the computer any day. Had to go to a library and look at books on making a resume. Would much rather just go online/Internet. Checking bank account..........much easier doing online. I sure don't know about my step-parents, but I sure wish the old computer/Internet would have been around while I was in the Navy and after. Yes, I love computers/Internet!
I agree that the Internet definitely has its conveniences Cody...but I am glad it wasn't around when I was a child because I really enjoyed my childhood without it.