Carrie Aliese
Anderson

Husky 11 ENG COMP 1

04/29/2007

Essay #2.2

1932/2007

04/25/07-revision

1932/1995/2007

Children caring for their younger siblings back in 1932, according to societies rules, compared to 1995 and today, 2007             

          My friend Bunky was approximately twelve years old back in 1932 and I had the honor of interviewing the gentleman at a local tavern in Kettle River.  I’ve known him for some time now, and I really admire him! He seems to have all of his faculties. As a matter of fact he had a former neighbor lady, from back in the 1930’s, confirm most of what he was saying to be true. I really enjoy talking with both of them!  It was quite comical to listen to them reminisce about the olden days! I asked him my first question. I said, “Have you ever had to take care of one of your younger siblings on your own, when there were no other adults around?” He said he did quite often.          

          I don’t know of too many families that have their older children watch over the younger ones in today’s times. I think that they are maybe afraid that child protection will say it is unacceptable.           

          Then I asked him, “Did you ever have to care for a newborn in your family?” He laughed with a huge chuckle, that I would ask such a question. Bunky, as they call him now said, “I was twelve years old when my parents went out dancing on a Saturday evening and left my two week old sister at home for me to watch over!” Then he hesitated a moment and said, “Diapers and all!” It was very funny coming from a man that was rather petite in nature and a bit old.

           My children fought over who would get to take care of the newborn in our family. When we had the twins it was a lot easier, Adam, who is in our class now, chose Blake, and Ryan, my older son, chose Grant as the new baby to help take care of. This was at the end of the acceptance age, where society still allowed children to help care for their younger siblings.

          The other lady that accompanied us piped up and said, “I used to babysit you Bunky,” her name was Nettie. She went on to say that she had twenty one siblings in her ‘yours, mine and ours type family!’ She was the baby, lucky for her I’d say. Her older brothers and sisters had to take care of the younger ones. If they could do anything beneficial to help out, they were put to the test! From feeding and changing to rocking them to sleep, what ever it took to give the parents some time to attend to other business, that would make the family progress.

          Now their family tree contains one hundred and eighty five desendants and growing!  She said she’s starting to lose track of the great nieces and nephews! I think Bunkey and Nettie were cousins also. This is one heck of a big tree, and my mom complains about having thirteen grandchildren.

          We have nine children in our family now. When I had a stroke, our twelve year old daughter practically raised our two year old son. That lasted for about a year, until I recovered enough to care for him again. He even talks like her and they are very close to each other now.

          The county, at that time, would not give us any extra assistance towards the care of the younger child. Now a days, the county would object to this because a twelve year old is considered a child themselves and they would probably put the youngster in foster care instead. I think they have their priorities messed up. I bet the neighbors would have a fit also.

          When we used to go out for the evening, the older children always watched their brothers and sisters. If we go on vacation they take care of them solely for the entire week. Now we don’t even dare to leave them home an hour or two after they come home from school. Even with a fifteen year old brother babysitting, I got into trouble with the county social worker, because the neighbor thought he wasn’t old enough to care for the eleven and seven year old. Whether I’m at college or at work we are required by today’s society to have an adult care giver with them at all times. 

          Times have drastically changed societies views on sibling care. Probaly because of the law suit changes that have also taken place hand in hand.