Karen Wils photos Vina Langford and baby Cleo Langford Wils are shown, circa 1920.
ESCANABA — A picture of motherhood is a treasure to behold!
The fashions, styles, baby carriages and even the diapers have changed over the years, but the love and tenderness remains the same.
“Mom, grandma, and great-granny,” these words bring smiles to our faces.
When we think of the requirements of motherhood just a few generations ago, we are amazed. How did she do it with so many mouths around the table? How did she deal with two in diapers at the same time?
With grandpa working and gone so many long hours in the woods, mines, on the ore boats or in the fields, how did Mom cope?
Karen Wils photos Lu Rose and granddaughter Ellen Wils are shown in 2001.
Besides caring for the children there was a woodstove, a wringer wash machine, a kitchen garden and an outhouse to tend to.
And yet, there were those precious moments when the crew was all content and cozy around the fire. Rocking chair time with a babe drifting off to sleep and sunrises with birds singing and children laughing were treasured times.
Generations ago, moms had to be nurturers, dietitians, cooks, nurses, seamstresses, housekeepers and sock darners. It’s hard to imagine childcare without the help of our modern conveniences like clothes washers and dryers, micro wave ovens, Velcro, computers and car seats.
Today’s moms work just as hard trying to take care of babies in a much more busy and hectic world.
Teddy bears and toys, strollers, carriers, cribs and infant apparel have changed a lot since great grandmother’s days.
Karen Wils photos Ella Stasewich and nephew Carlton Larsen and son James are shown, circa 1935.
But one thing that has not changed is the look of pride and pleasure on the faces of the mother. Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but also one of the most rewarding!
On Mother’s Day weekend it is fun to go through the old family photo albums and see how many pictures you can find with moms holding babies. How many generations can you go back?
Note the changes in so many things like baby shoes to hair styles for the moms. Also note the look of love in the mother’s eyes. Grandmothers have a look of awe and wonder when they hold a new grandchild.
Mother’s Day is a time to say thank you to all the moms, grandmothers, aunties and step-moms out there who helped us, held us and hugged us over the years.
Happy Mother’s Day blessings to all!
Karen (Rose) Wils is a lifelong north Escanaba resident. Her folksy columns appear weekly in Lifestyles.
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