1909 Modern Mother

In honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, I thought we might take a look at how my great-grandmother, Eleanor, handled new motherhood. Her first child, Clara, was born in October 1907, according to census records. Eleanor would have been 33. I assumed everyone “back then” married and had children in their twenties (or earlier) so this surprised me.

The pictures in today’s post should be April or May 1909, taken when Clara was about 1 1/2 years old. No doubt, both mother and child were happy to get out of the house once Spring came. (Toddlers make any house feel too small). I found it interesting that the baby carriage ads of the day also promoted “fresh air trips” to make your baby a “lusty youngster”.

Here Clara frames the bustling Town of Wallkill. She sports a top-notch carriage (complete with parasol), baby bonnet and loose-fitting dress. I give great-grandmother ten points as a first-time mom! 110 years later, this kind of protection is still the recommendation for babies spending time outdoors.

Other toddler recommendations would have been easy for Eleanor:

• Place plug covers on all unused electrical outlets (no sockets)
• Keep your child’s car seat rear-facing (no car)
• Limit screen time (no screens)

That said, these technologies would all become available within the next 30 years as modernization surged ahead. The age of Victorianism was ending and a new trend of philosophical thought – Modernism – would soon change the Western world as we know it.

As I thought about this post, I began to see a similarity in the process towards Modernism and that of new motherhood. Modernism was a change in culture and sensibility on a worldwide scale. Becoming a new mother, for me, brought about that kind of dramatic change on a personal level.

Prior to children, my priorities looked vaguely like this:

1. Work
2. Spend time with husband
3. Spend time with family and friends
4. Hobbies / exercise

I spent time thinking about things: “What is my opinion on X, Y, Z? Am I fulfilled? What does that mean?”

Then, I became a mother. My priority list changed thus:

1. Keep children occupied
2. Feed children
3. Clothe children
4. Clean children

The questions became more immediate: “Do we need more diapers? What will we have for dinner this week?”

Not better, not worse, but – as any parent can tell you – radically different. Within the span of a few years, just like the Modernists, my husband and I renounced our beliefs in the Stable, the Rational and the Predictable.

Stable: “See you when I get home.”

Unstable: “Mon, Wed, Fri I will pick up both girls after work but Tuesdays and Thursdays you get little one after you take the train home while I wait for the after-school bus for 7 yr. old. Thursdays drop-off is at 8:45 instead of 8:30 because I take the morning call at 7:30. Unless they cancel the call in which case…”

Rational: “Oh gosh, is it bedtime already? I’m tired. Good night.” [Child lays down] .

Irrational: “10 more minutes. One more story? I’m thirsty. I have to go potty. Rub my back. Lie down with me. Two more songs? Just two more. What’s an acquaintance? La la la la LAAAAAA! Where are you going? Mommy, come BACK!”

Predictable: “Great. See you at 3.”

Unpredictable: “Did she go down for nap? Was gymnastics cancelled? Isn’t that birthday party this weekend? Oh, she’s got a fever. Where’s the thermometer? It’s not in the “Baby-related” box and not in the “Medicine and Band-aids” box either… HOW CAN WE FIND ANYTHING IN THIS MESS?”

I’ll have lots more to say about Modernism. For now, I think it adds value if we view these pictures knowing that at the very moment they were taken painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama, architecture, poetry and thought were undergoing profound transformations.

In the above picture, you can see that Eleanor knew the importance of play and – proven by Clara’s smile – the fact that toddlers love pushing and pulling things on wheels. She probably also knew, as a new Modernist mom, what it means to open the self to new experiences.

Parenthood


Less prepared, more together
Less fuel, more drive
More bills, less feather
Less awake, more alive

Martha Gonzalez