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Across the Fence:  Fifties idealism?  |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:14:59 AM
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Am I living in a fifties bubble? I spoke briefly about my image of the fifties and how I picture how life was. People dressed up well, home cooked meals, houses kept, respect, honor, honesty, just good things. I know there were the uglies but I always feel like there's things we could learn from that time. I love to look at my family's pictures from then.
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:17:35 AM
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I really was thinking about this yesterday. Minus the uglies, I think it was a time when people felt safe, for the most part.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:27:38 AM
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My brother was born in '57 and me in '58. Mom raised us on Dr. Spock (?) books. By the book. If anything went wrong, she'd get the book out. She put us in jammies for every nap. We had dinner every night and even had the same thing on certain nights of the week. I love the pictures of her with her black hair in the beehive doo. She was the typical housewife. Drinks at the door waiting on hubbie with his slippers. I had a great childhood.
I always tried to do the same thing when I got married. That's really all I wanted to be was the housewife-homemaker-helpmeet to my husband. That's good that there are others out there like this now. I do see this trend coming back in the young people these days.
Kris |
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mommatracy
True Blue Farmgirl
490 Posts
Tracy
My. Olive
NC
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:32:27 AM
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I feel the same way.When I look at my DH family photos back to the 40 & 50's everyone always looked neat. I never saw one picture of my MIL & FIL that didn't look perfect. Mil always had perfect hair,nails,clothes and just the right pair of earrings. Her house was always perfectly tidy and so were my DH and his brother. My DH swears he never ever heard his parents raise their voice at each other. He tells me that he just really had a great childhood. His parents had lots of friends and played canasta and bridge. I try to emulate that life somewhat but in this world it "ain't" easy.
www.cottagebythebay.blogspot.com |
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Sitnalta
True Blue Farmgirl
4208 Posts
Jessica
NJ
USA
4208 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:39:01 AM
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As a child of the 80s and 90s, I can honestly say that the 50s would have been wonderful. My granparents were married in 1949 and I love hearing their stories from then:)
hugs
Jessie
Farmgirl Sister #235
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work You don't give up.
Stop by my blog for a visit www.messiejessie2.blogspot.com |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 08:55:41 AM
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I just always think of that time (in my head) lol and wish we could remember things and take the goodies from it. Well girls I think I'm gonna divulge my dream- to be a housewife. I just wanna have a great family and make it my #1 priority and make the MOST of it! :) I mean I know others do too but it's hard to juggle and I see that. As my boss says I want the white picket fence, and yes I DO. lol I think when you look good you feel good about yourself. I see slobby people looking sad and grumpy and if you take pride in yourself how can you feel bad? I think we have way to much on our plates too. Yeah the canasta and bridge and entertaining is something I long for......I feel silly talking about something I don't truly know but I like to hear from you all.
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
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clux64
True Blue Farmgirl
162 Posts
Celeste
Blair
NE
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 09:04:57 AM
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I always look back at the fifties with some degree of nostalgia...but the truth is, there was a great deal of repression in that era. Historians report that physical abuse to women was very high in the fifties compared to today. Women had limited career opportunities, and there was much less money available for girls high school sports than there was for the boys. There was a cold war, people were building fallout shelters in their back yards to prepare for the nuclear attack that was to come. I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but it's easy to wax rapsodic about the past because we only remember the good stuff. I kind of like it now...There is all the fifties flare, but with modern sensibilites. Plus, I kinda love the internet...
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are"
--Confucious
www.urbanprairiehome.blogspot.com
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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clux64
True Blue Farmgirl
162 Posts
Celeste
Blair
NE
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 10:15:46 AM
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Oh, I know Bridget...I was just responding to the group in general not one just one person, I'm really sorry if it didn't sound that way. I'm with Kris, I do see a trend in young people for the stuff we idealize about the 50's. They seem to want to keep things simple, have more style and focus more on quality than quantity. The young people I know also seem to take child rearing much more seriously. I also noticed that these same 'young' friends of mine have a renewed interest in the 'cocktail'...a term I thought died sometime in the 60's :)
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are"
--Confucious
www.urbanprairiehome.blogspot.com
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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clux64
True Blue Farmgirl
162 Posts
Celeste
Blair
NE
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 11:02:29 AM
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You know...that would be a cool thing to collect---50's era cocktail glasses. I sometimes see them at estate sales. I think I could be zapped back in time (in my head) if I were sipping 'cocktails' from vintage glasses. Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are"
--Confucious
www.urbanprairiehome.blogspot.com
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 11:24:40 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bohemiangel
I just always think of that time (in my head) lol and wish we could remember things and take the goodies from it. Well girls I think I'm gonna divulge my dream- to be a housewife. I just wanna have a great family and make it my #1 priority and make the MOST of it! :) ....I feel silly talking about something I don't truly know but I like to hear from you all.
Aw, Bridget. Be brave! I'm a youngin' too (well, 26 now) and it's my dream to be a housewife too. I think there really is a group of young people these days that are looking back and realizing that their families and lives don't have to be like the ones they grew up with. So many of us were latch-key kids from broken homes while parents worked all the time for money. I think a lot of us are realizing how important a happy home life is. I wish the idea of being a 'housewife' was taken seriously. It's full time job, just like any other career 
It's funny, my step-dad asked me the other day what I wanted to be when I grew up (remember, I'm 26, my fella and I have our own little business, I've been on my own since 17 etc.) What did I say after a good long pause? I said that I just wanted to be a good daughter, a good wife, and a good person. I think so many people are caught up in careers and 'stuff' that they forget to put energy into the relationships and home life that are so important in our lives.
Since moving out into the country, my fella and I are usually the youngest at the local events around here- pancake breakfasts, country dinners at the historic site we support, strawberry socials etc. My family and I all went to a dinner theatre show in PA a few weeks ago. It was a riot and afterwards we all took over the parlour and played piano, and cards. It's totally possible to live in an 'old fashioned' way today, it takes a bit of bravery, and a bit of sleuthing to find things to do, but it's totally doable.
ps. I love the fifties style too. When I get a bit more dosh, I'm going to buy a vintage dress pattern and get a few dresses sewn up.They are so easy to wear and you always look neat and put together when you wear them!
Here's a link http://intimelyfashion.com/main/?cat=21 to a few very brave gals who do something called 'past-dressing'. Basically they've decided to wear old styles as daily wear. There is a teen who makes herself fifties dresses and wears them all the time. She figures if some students can dress goth, why can't she dress like this! Totally awesome!
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 11:41:46 AM
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I was born in 55;
We lived in a 4 room cabin no indoor plumbing; used a wood - cook stove and coal stove in the living room for heat
We lived in the mountains; on a really small farm
Times, there in the 50's were not all fun and games.
My dad worked out of town a lot as he was an iron worker and had to go where there was work.
Mom was left with us four kids to raise.
Some , small live stock to care for. etc.
So,
Times for us were not all that great.
Pinkroses
www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com
http;//www.sheilascreativetouches.blogspot.com |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 11:46:18 AM
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Thanks for the link meg:) yeah I go to things to and I'm the youngest or oldest youngster :-p Where in PA? Im in the western side. Sounds fun. I wish I could get a group of girls together to have coffee at my house and have people over to play cards. I always wanted to learn bridge. Once again all "old" people and I say old tongue in cheek cause I could care less how old they are but technically they are. I am in search of a dress form to make my own styles. I love 50s style dresses so put together and perfect looking. Yes I totally hear you about being a housewife. My family has always stressed education which is super but I feel I'm educated now and a good person but want to focus on home life. My parents divorced when I was 7 and my father has never been a father. I was a latch key kid and had a SUPER loving mother but her time was not there for me she was working hard and gave me lots of stuff. I remember all I wanted was her to play with me. That's it. That is free! I don't want my kids to want that. I don't blame mum at all it's just what I wanted and she couldn't give that as much as I wanted. I have lived a very blessed life love and financial wise. I can't complain but I have my sites set on what I want to provide for my future family. Also family says you don't want to be a housewife you'd be bored. I would volunteer, dapple in my own biz, etc. I just get NO support when I say I want to be a housewife.....it hurts honestly. so I hide that dream of mine. If it's not a career dream then its worthless is what I basically get from friends and fam. i know my mum says whatever it is that makes me happy she'll support. :) Being a housewife is a full time job and how people juggle that and a job idk.....I feel like I could never and want to give 100% to being a housewife
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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Annie S
True Blue Farmgirl
756 Posts
Annie
Custer
S.D.
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 12:06:17 PM
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I was born in'46 so I remember the 50's very well. Back then we kids "made" our own fun. We played stick ball, built "forts" out of old lumber we'd find around the neighborhood. All the kids got involved with doing things together. We were outside all day long and came home when we saw our dads driving down the road to home. We didn't have TV, so we read alot and helped with chores or went back outside to play. We went exploring around our small town - one of those towns where everyone knew you. It was a more "innocent" time back then. To bad that people now can't take a lesson from back then - slow down, no need for "Blackberries" and texting cellphones and computer games that take you away from interacting with family and friends. Back then people got together for cocktail parties and bar-b-ques on weekends and Friday night football at the high school. Kids got together and made their own fun - we climbed trees, rode out bikes all over town and to the lake to go swimming, we went to the library to get books to read. Now a days kids are in front of computers playing games and not interacting with other kids. And their reading skills have fallen drastically. But with every era, times change and we can only adapt and think back to another time, just as our kids/grandkids will do when they get older. Such is life.
Annie |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 12:23:04 PM
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Totally empathize Bridge, sounds just like us :) My background is really similar to yours- messy divorce, latchkey kid- I just wanted someone to be home when I got home from school. I thought one of my friend's houses was amazing because her mom was there with a snack when she came home from school everyday. And it's not that I regret my childhood or my life growing up, it's made me who I am today- but I know what I'd like for my kids to have one day.
I've been working from home for the past year now and I still get "aren't you bored yet?" from family. I always just tell them I'm busier now then when I worked full-time. So many little things that need doing, so many opportunities that need exploring..
Here's my favourite quote from one of my role-models in life- Tasha Tudor-
"I enjoy doing housework, ironing, washing, cooking, dishwashing. Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down housewife. It's an admirable profession, why apologize for it. You aren't stupid because you're a housewife. When you're stirring the jam you can read Shakespeare."
If you ever get the chance- go to The Riverside Inn, in Crystal Springs, PA. It's just a little south of Erie. We've been going there for years and years. It's an old inn that used to cater to the upper class who came to 'take the water' a century ago because of the mineral springs in the area. It's the only old hotel left from that era. All the antique furniture is still there, and there's no tv or phones in the rooms, just one main tv downstairs in the lobby. There are puzzles to do, and tables to play cards at. It's on a creek that you can paddle down in summer, or shuffle board you can play. There's a big wide veranda with wicker chairs, and a cozy fire in the big parlour in winter. And it's so inexpensive because there's none of the fussy technology around. And the best thrift store in the continent is in the little town- Buttons and Bows.
Here's the website- http://www.theriversideinn.com/
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 12:40:45 PM
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Thank you meg:) Glad I'm not alone! :) I love that quote and I grew up with tasha tudor books:) I still adore the one about birthdays and holidays. The birthday was in august and so is mine so I always thought it was about mine tee hee. I'll def check out that link thank you!:)
**~~Farmgirl Sister #60~~**
"... to thine ownself be true."
http://liggybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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vermont v
True Blue Farmgirl
194 Posts
Victoria
Chester
Vermont
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 1:00:26 PM
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I was born in 55 and I feel lucky to have a real childhood!We did'nt have a lot but we never felt deprived. We ran all around town on bikes, spent the summer at the public pool, collected bottles for money , had a great time building stuff out of scrap lumber from the neighbor's yard. It did seem that things were simpler and less complicated.I think people were more connected with each other out of necessity. People had to be ingenious; I remember a neighbor building a camper on the back of a car that he cut up.It was cool! It seems people had less and maybe enjoyed what they had more!Nothing wrong with trying to emulate some of the values and virtues of the 50s. |
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bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 1:46:26 PM
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Oh, this is so fun to read all these posts. It's bringing back lots of memories and also making me feel really OLD! I remember always playing outside. My dad even BUILT a pool every summer! It would get bigger each year and a little deeper. Always had someone to play with and something to do. If we didn't, mom sure would find us something! So we learned real early to never say we were bored! She'd fix that.
My 91 year old friend has a Manhattan every evening at 5. On the dot. Has for years and years. Goes through a huge bottle of whiskey about every 3 weeks. Even puts the cherries and all. Has a bowl of pretzels, too. HHMMM... maybe that's why she's almost 92.
Thanks for the nice memories. There are some not so good ones, too. But mostly good ones.
Kris |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 2:06:03 PM
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I was born in '72. I think younger generations always like to look at the past with rose coloured glasses. Realistically, women did not have the same rights as they do today (which was a bad thing), also "certain things" were never discussed (abuse, etc.), we're more open about that now, thank Heavens.
HOWEVER, that being said I do think we've lost many things over the past 40 years, with all the modern conveniences which were supposed to make our lives better we've lost family togetherness (we're all home but not together when everybody's plugged in), we're always connected to work (which is a very bad thing). I think with women's lib we've thrown the baby out with the bath water (in rejecting that we are nurturers, we are compassionate, we are caregivers, that is our nature). We've lost the values of the past, how many of us know our neighbours or venture outside for a walk, not many anymore and that's sad.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 2:17:27 PM
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I was born in 48 so I really was a child in the fifties. I do agree that values were stressed more. I do believe in that and I taught my kids the same values and now my grandkids too. The fifties were partciulary portrayed nicely on the TV shows. But, don't be fooled there was a lot of things that went on and were swept under the rug. Women were definatly second class citizens. Their place was in the home period. That was their job. Whether they wanted it or not. You could be a teacher or a nurse, but God forbid if you had an idea of your own. But,fear not, along came the revolution, the '60's God Love Them!! Now that was an era for sure. LOVED IT! Seriously though I think the best thing about any era is to take the best and learn from it and make the most out of the opportunities it offers. No era is all bad or all good. Now we do have choices. We can be anything we want to be. A homemaker (which I might add I choose to be) or a rocket scientist. And anything and everything in between. The 50's have always been portrayed as a wonderful time. It makes you feel like things were safe and homey and cozy, which I think most all of us want on some level. I feel you can carry that feeling into every lifestyle you choose. Those peaceful feelings are what makes life worth while. Choose to be happy and loving and kind and these things will fall right into place.
Peace,
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 2:28:57 PM
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I was born in 1955. Did not have the June Cleaver family as my parents were divorced. Maybe that is why I always enjoyed being a housewife. I had to work sometimes when my kids were small to get us over a hump, but I was able to be at home quite a bit too. My husband always wanted the perfect home with homecooked meals, baking, etc, but...he loved the idea of the extra money. He like to have me working, but expected me to do all the homemaker stuff. I struggled with it for years, I finally said enough! If I am going to work at a full time job, I am not doing all the stuff at the house. I am more than happy to be a housewife, but if I have to have a paying job, all bets are off. That means get off your backside and help with the home stuff. I love my husband dearly, but even after 32 years of marriage it is a sore spot.
I believe we can be or do anything we want. The sticky wicket of it is this: for everything you have, you have to give something up. The other thing you have to consider is this, you can have everything, but not at the same time. It's all about choices. I never get bored at home. But, I like to cook and bake, can, garden, work on my home, quilt, sew, etc. If you look at your home as a career, much like they did in the Victorian era(where they raised homemaking to a fine art)and put the energy into it like you would a paying job, you would be an outstanding housewife. But I have to agree that our society does not value mothers and housewives. A rather sad commentary if I say so my self.
Yes, women were not valued during the earlier times like we want to be. Many times, they were abused and taken for granted. But you can still see that in our present time. Maybe not as much, but it's still there. Wouldn't it be great to take the parts of the 50's or any era, that are truely good and combine them with the good of the present era.
I also feel that the greed for money and power is what fuels our society and the importance put on "careers" and education. Education is alway a good thing, but you don't have to get it from an institution. People say they can't make it on one income. They can if they make the choice to do it. It might mean giving up the second vehicle, the boat, the snowmobile, the time share, the department store clothes, the acrylic nails, the fast foods, the fancy vacations,........you get my drift. Like I said, it's choices, all about the choices. Then there is also the mixed messages we get, yes we are supposed to have spotless houses, perfectly mannered children, etc and work at an outside job 40-50 hours a week.....you can not do it all, at least not well.
I wish all of you luck and the courage to be a housewife if that is what you want to be. If you do it though, promise me you will do it with pride and hold your head up, and never, I repeat, never say you are JUST a housewife.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Badgebadger
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Bookclub Coordinator
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
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Across the Fence: Fifties idealism? |
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Fifties idealism?
