An Ungrateful Bunch: On Large Families

What ever happened to large families? We might find out, by eavesdropping on a conversation between two seniors in their eighties, living in a village nursing home. In her early years, Augusta had given birth to ten children and thus, she had numerous grandchildren, as well as great-grandchildren, doting on her continually. 

Bart, now a widower, had raised eight children. After his first wife died, he raised several stepchildren, as well. He too, had many loving, caring and attentive grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In this conversation, Augusta is referring to another family with eighteen children, who also lived in their village.

“Those youngsters should have been grateful to their parents, after all, there were so many of them,” she said. “It is not as if they ever had any money to throw away. They were so poor and always lived in that old, run-down shack by the river.” 

“Those children were a miserable, bad-mannered, ungrateful bunch, who never spent time or money helping their parents, or anyone else," replied Bart. He sat in silence for a moment. “Our family always pulled together. We took good care of each other just like our parents and grandparents.”  

“Between us, we have been blessed with so many children,” replied Augusta. “Having a large family seemed to be the thing to do in our era. We raised children properly and taught them to take good care of us, too.”

Bart smiled, recalling the past. “Those were the good old days, Augusta. When we were young, everyone had large families, so they would have help on their farms. We worked hard and taught our children a strong, positive, work ethic.”

“Our life was our children,” said Augusta. “We also raised our children as Christians.”

“It made a difference, too,” replied Bart. “That other family’s life was socially oriented in an adverse direction. They lived beside a large hotel. The parents drank a lot and the children followed suit. They ran wild and were always in trouble.”

“So we are here now and where are they?”

“I don’t know,” replied Bart. “We reap what we sow.”

“If we got married now, we’d have how many children?”