Although Mother's Day is a modern invention, Old Sturbridge Village historians note that by the 1830s, a "cult of domesticity" began to glorify home and hearth as a sanctuary. Parenting techniques have changed since the 19th century, but one thing remains the same: being a mom is a lot of work and a very important job. Old Sturbridge Village salutes today's hard-working mothers by offering free admission to all moms on Mother's Day, May 12. The first 200 moms will receive a free gift: a tin star handcrafted in the Village Tin Shop.
Mother's Day is also one of the last opportunities to view the Village's current exhibit, A Child's World: Childhood in 19th-Century New England. The exhibit is in its final weeks and will close after Memorial Day, May 27. Nearly 200 rare child-related artifacts -- toys, games, puzzles, portraits, clothing, and furniture from the museum's collection are on display together for the first time.
Here are a few facts about 19th-century motherhood that are interesting to consider today:
Infant boys and girls were dressed very much alike in gowns. This allowed the same garment to be passed from one sibling to the next without concern for gender. And it was much more practical to manage diaper or nappy changes without fiddling with trouser legs and buttons!
For baby equipment, mothers in the 19th century made do with what they had. For baby walkers, they simply placed ladder-backed chairs flat on the floor so babies could push the chair and toddle along behind. Antique chairs were often worn flat on the back from generations of children learning to walk.
Boys were breeched, or allowed to wear trousers for the first time, when they were old enough and dexterous enough to manage their own trouser buttons. This was often between 3 or 4 years old, though as late as 7 or 8 later in the 19th century.
Both girls and boys were taught to sew and knit, which was a good way for children to develop their fine motor skills.
Young girls and boys were expected to help around the house. Tasks typically handled by children included gathering eggs and firewood, hauling water, weeding the garden, gathering berries, picking apples, mucking out stalls, and emptying chamber pots.
In the kitchen, children helped out by churning butter, pounding sugar, sifting flour, and stoning raisins (removing the seeds). On the farm, children plucked chickens, and fed the pigs and other farm animals.
With so much cooking done at hearthside, fire was certainly a danger for children in early New England households. Often infants were put in wooden "baby tenders" to keep them away from the fire, and no doubt one of the earliest words children learned was "Hot!"
One of the most famous authorities on managing households and raising children was Lydia Maria Child, of Medford, Massachusetts, author of The American Frugal Housewife, published in 1832. (She is better known today for penning the poem Over the River and Through the Woods.)
Here is one of Mrs. Child's parenting tips, which still resonates today: "A child of six years old can be made useful; and should be taught to consider every day lost in which some little thing has not been done to assist others."
Old Sturbridge Village is one of the countrys oldest and largest living history museums, depicting early New England life from 1790-1840 with historians in costume, antique buildings, water-powered mills, and a working farm. Visitors can view antiques, meet heritage breed animals, and enjoy hands-on crafts. For more information, visit www.osv.org.