What the children think

[Silvana Siddali]

I had a fascinating conversation with my young friend Megan, who's about nine years old, on the way back from Perryville. I had noticed that there were about a dozen or more children tearing around having a perfectly wonderful time near the village. They were playing very naturally in their period clothes (and why is it that kids always look so great in their outfits?) I also noticed that they play with the simplest of toys -- Megan had made her own dolls from scraps of fabric given her by a friendly lady there, and the boys were playing with sticks, balls, or just chasing each other around. They didn't seem to miss their fancy electronic toys in the least. Another thing: they became close friends instantly and played all weekend with one another, even though most of them hadn't met before and might not meet again.

Anyway -- I asked Megan after the event whether she was aware that she and her friends were dressed in clothes from the past. Did they feel as though they were wearing their own clothes, or did it feel as though they were dressing up? Megan said without hesitation that she felt as though she was wearing her own clothes. She told me, "I wasn't dressing up. I just sort of forgot all about modern times."

I asked her what she meant by that, and she told me, "whenever I saw someone dressed in modern clothes I was really surprised. All the other kids were kids from the past."

I was amazed at the simplicity of her response. It seems to me that these children experience hours and hours of "period moments." And they do it all so gracefully and in such a friendly and happy way. It's really quite inspiring. Has anyone else talked to their kids about their reenacting life? I'd love to hear more about these conversations.


Silvana Siddali
Trans-Mississippi Civilians

[ElizabethClark]

We went to Fort Bridger Wyoming in June to set up as a "rest stop on the Oregon Trail" in a pretty meadow just outside the Fort's walls... three wagons, 5.5 grownups (one was a very young adult), 8-9 kids ranging from 16 to 1.5 years.

Nearby to our encampment was a small stream. My oldest daughter spent a good 4 hours each day standing in the stream, her skirts and petticoats hiked up, drawers soggy for the first few inches, "fishing" with a hanky, a stick, and some twine. The littler girls sat on the bank, absorbed. The boys came by freqently to torment them, and also spent a good deal of time trying to set string snares for little ground rodents. The kids worked together to construct a lean-to with sticks, twine, and a square of spare canvas. They had to be talked into wearing boots (my son went barefoot most of the event because he very realistically grew out of his boots about 2 days before we left.) They had no problems leaving their hats, caps, and bonnets on to combat the sun.

When gearing up for this event, I asked the kids what amusements they needed to take. The list was short:

Pocket Knife
String

They figured that with those two things, they could keep amused for weeks.

I've noticed that children are have a very easy time of getting into the past. They don't worry so much over the "impression" they're presenting--they just LIVE. We spent a lot of time discussing what a child's life on the trail might be like, what they might fear or enjoy, what foods would be normal (beans), what foods would be treats (eggs and fresh fruit).

I know my kids had a great time playing, but my daughter (who'll be 11 by then) is also really looking forward to being a servant at an event next year... working part-time as kitchen and cleaning help. We're using the role as a springboard for studying history this winter, and I'm encouraging her to write about the experience with an eye to submitting it for publication, precisely because we don't often hear from the younger set on what their lives would have been like.

(Speaking of younger sets... mine is screaming from her high chair. Time for a nap.)

[Mutt]

No children. In fact, no marriage . . . yet :-P

However, I will comment for the sake of the have the same thought go through my mind as I watched the children at Perryville. They seemed to have an endless supply of energy they could tap into even at 8am! haha

I think we can all learn from them. I've continually found that the more worried I am about every detail and thread through an event, how I look, et.c etc. the less fun I have. As Mrs. Clark pointed out, "they just LIVE." It's a lot simpler and so easy. It also proves that "the primitive past" isn't as primitive or far removed from us as we think. "Back in the old days" can be found right smack infront of us.

I'm just glad the children at Perryville didn't knock over my lil lean-to. :)

Regards,

[Forquer]

This is just another example of what happens when you let kids "be kids." You can only structure their lives so much.

I think back to when I was at that age. If I had to do it all over again now, it would probably drive me nuts. Combine an education system that is trying to homogenize their charges into good little citizens who are incapabale of thinking outside the box, let alone criticaly thinking, with parents who have to have their kids enrolled in activities instead of just letting them play and getting their creative juices flowing, and you're breeding a new race of zombies.

Some of the best adjusted kids (if there is such a thing) that I've been exposed to have been brought up in the reenacting community.

[Chessa]

I know my kids had a great time playing, but my daughter (who'll be 11 by then) is also really looking forward to being a servant at an event next year... working part-time as kitchen and cleaning help. We're using the role as a springboard for studying history this winter, and I'm encouraging her to write about the experience with an eye to submitting it for publication, precisely because we don't often hear from the younger set on what their lives would have been like.



I am also looking forward to an event next year much the same.

It really is easy to get "into" a role for reenactments. I got into reenacting a little too late to play like that, but it is probably easier for me to get into the whole swing of things than it would be for, say, one of my older friends.

[NoahBriggs]

Sounds lik e the inn will be overstaffed, if there is such a thing!

My fondest memory was McDowell 03. As we marched into the "battlefield" we saw a fence which crossed the property. Draped on the fence at various crazy angles were perfect models straight out of a Tom Sawyer book - kids, parked on the fence, eagerly waiting for the ball to open.

[58th C]

I can't say that I have had a specific conversation about reenacting with my son. He is aware that there is a correct way to be dressed in period clothing and does request items that he would like. On his last birthday he asked for a hat and we got him a nice one in a slightly larger size so it would last. A friend made him a painted canvas knapsack as we knew an army one wouldn't do for a child. Before Perryville, he asked me to make him drawers. He has no qualms about wearing period clothing and they don't hamper him in any way from running around and playing or climbing trees. It seems that many parents no longer allow their children to run freely outdoors and get wet or dirty. I always let my boys play in the yard and get wet and muddy. People who live in pristine environments may have a hard time adjusting to sleeping outdoors, having a bug crawl on them or finding bits of who-knows-what floating in that cup they've just been drinking out of. I thought that all of the children in the Living History area did quite well in getting along and keeping busy. The fact that they all were dressed properly only added to the ambiance.

Lauren Kaye

[S.D.Foster]

My wife and I took our 20-month old daughter to Perryville last weekend. Saturday morning, as she was waking up she seemed to think her parents had gone insane and were no longer making any sense. Part of this was because it was her first night outside of a home, and she did not understand why she was getting cold when out from under the blanket. I guess she associates blankets with sleep, and when we tried to put it back on her she would push it off. Naturally she gave me one of those looks which implied "How could you?"

But, after a short while she was up and walking about and having a wonderful time. She did not seem to mind being in different clothes. We spent a lot of time trying to keep her hair parted in the middle, followed by her brushing it back out of order time and time again.

But it sure was a load of fun. Last weekend was the first time she said "horse" and it was while looking at real horses. I was glad we took her to the event.

Sean Foster

[ElizabethClark]

Sean, don't worry over that messy gerbil hair... if you look at engravings and informal pictures, messy baby hair is pretty common. They prettied it up for posed images most times, but it doesn't last long in real life. :)

I do remember the year my son went from dresses to little trousers. He was VERY put out about it... his dresses and light cotton drawers were cool and breezy, and he was very annoyed about having to wear pants. He's now 7.5, and as we were gearing up this spring, he asked if please, please couldn't a little boy on the Oregon trail wear a kilt, because he didn't want long pants. We found a compromise in shorter knickerbockers and bare feet, and that seemed to work out well.

Off to take the husband to work!

[Nevada Bugler]

I'd have to agree that kids raised around the re-enacting communities are some of the best adjusted going. Do you have any idea how many young parents today would have a fit over a boy of 8 being turned loose with a knife and some string? 'But he could hurt himself'! I've heard things like this, and it seems as though many re-enactor fathers have the same reply as me--so? He'll heal if he gets cut and he'll figure out how to keep from getting hurt!.

At our camps we have lots of kids, both boys and girls. We just turn 'em loose and let 'em have a great time. We don't fret over bugs, dirt, being clean or how to keep them from hurting themselves. The funny thing is that it's very unusual for any of them to get hurt. For the most part, they are some of the healthiest and happiest kids around. And they can't wait for the next years campaigns to begin!

Bill Scott
Hardaways Alabama Battery
Comstock Civil War Reenactors

[ElizabethClark]

Lest anyone reading be afraid--I know Mr. Scott and most of the rest of us don't actually just turn a kid loose with a knife... they're given safety instruction in the proper use of such things at home, before any event, plus instructions on "what is appropriate to use a knife on, and what isn't". :) We're also very explicit about *where* running games and play can occur (not near tents, nor fires, and certainly not near any military camps), and when it's not okay (late at night, etc.)

I know our family prefers non-battle events... there's more to do when we're interpreting "everyday life" rather than the crises battles bring down on citizens. But children have successfully attended several campaign and battle events--it all depends on whether or not the event scenario has taken into account the realistic portrayal of citizens.

Anyone need a slightly drippy and whining, teething toddler girl for an upcoming scenario? I'm about ready to break out the whiskey for us both, or ship her by post to Grandma's in Biloxi. She'd be ideal for any scenario enhanced by the unhappy sobs of a small girl.

Talking with my own children, they enjoy working in event scenarios just as much as playing. Gathering wood, hauling water, helping cook, cuddling that crabby toddler in a shawl, picking wild blackberries, fishing for dinner, helping tend any livestock, pulling weeds in a cottage garden... it can all be enjoyable with the companionship of other similarly-engaged children, or interested adults to keep company.

Looking forward to the Inn event, my daughter is excited to have new pinafores, to sweep the rooms and smooth beds, and to help with cutting bread and vegetables. She'll be working part-time only, so there will be plenty of play time with the other children, but she's very much looking forward to being able to say, "I must get back--I've work to do, or else we won't earn our supper..." and making envious comments about the non-working children, and the life she hopes to return to when we've found a new home.

One tip: always make sure YOU get to use the wash water before the 7yo boy. Another: consider sewing his pockets shut if he's a boy who tends to collect things. I've learned both lessons the unpleasant way. :)

With pre-event education and direction, and making sure we instruct the kids on civilized behavior, they really do have a blast, just being Kids In The Past.

[Nevada Bugler]

Lest anyone reading be afraid--I know Mr. Scott and most of the rest of us don't actually just turn a kid loose with a knife... they're given safety instruction in the proper use of such things at home, before any event, plus instructions on "what is appropriate to use a knife on, and what isn't".

Darn right! You can't go whittlin on the tent poles! :eek:

Bill Scott
Hardaways Alabama Battery
Comstock Civil War Reenactors

[Hargis, G. 5 A-1]

Thanks to Miss Siddali sharing her Silvana/Megan conversation with us, we have a delightfully didactic discussion going here. Sprats are, of course, an important thread in the historic tapestries we weave. Instead of acting (in the thespian sense) they REACT as period people. They put the "Living" into "Living History," as we all should.

[MercyAngel62]

I've been involved with Civil War reenacting since I was a baby in arms. My parents actually started reenacting about 25 years ago. When I was younger, I didn't really understand the purpose of being "in funny clothes" and camping. It was very natural part of my family-life. Ten-twenty years ago, both of my parents were more active in the reenacting community. Now, due to health reasons and age, they do not participate as much. I can remember my father setting up camp for my mother and I with our group on Friday nights and coming back Sunday to take our camp back down. It was always something I got to do with my mom- something we had in common and I loved it! And, now that she no longer reenacting, I have inherited all of her things! :D

Participating in reenacting also gave me a chance to have social connections beyond my community and I was able to learn to interact with adults more at a young age. I have so many strong friendships of different ages with people that I have known since childhood within the reenacting community.

I think children within the hobby see a view-point that you don't generally get from school or other activities. I learned to appreciate history more so than friends I have grown up with outside of reenacting.

[Nevada Bugler]

Since we're on the subject of kids, here's a great site I stumbled on that has lots of old time games that kids used to play. I'm seriously considering a 'camp of instruction' in kids games for all the wild little hares running loose!

http://www.kudu.net/outdoor/games/beard/index.htm


__________________
Bill Scott
Hardaways Alabama Battery
Comstock Civil War Reenactors

[Drygoods]

Greetings everyone,

My own view is that children really enjoy being a dressed participant at events and probably feel more at home 'dressed' than those who walk around in modern clothes. The only trouble I had once was when my children were at an event and there was a period wedding.....holy smokes, was the bride mad when she found more photos of my little son in a gown than photos of her in hers! :(

When my daughter was little, I used to dress her in pretty white gowns and with large flour sack clothes, tie her into a chair so that I could cook and do laundry. People were delighted with that little baby girl who sat there patiently smiling and waving her arms......probably one of the best moments of my life too. No kidding, children are really happy when they are dressed and included into the events. I think it gives the public more scope into events that they, and their family can relate to.

[ElizabethClark]

An excellent resource for games and amusements: http://www.vintagevolumes.com Michael and Virginia Mescher have some great products and books.

Mrs. Peebles, I had to laugh at the "tied to a chair" baby--we've had our share of those, and it's really delightful. Though I think my husband got tired of explain why our "baby girl" in a dress was named Colin, and came with outdoor plumbing. :)

[Elizabeth Miller]

My son started coming with me to the site we worked at when he was 3 weeks old. The following summer when he was 1, it would get so hot, I'd pull down the washtub, fill it with water, and put it under a tree. He would sit in it for hours, naked as a jaybird, happily playing with any number of wooden toys we scrounged up. People flocked to us by the dozens - I talked about children's lives and birthin' babies and dresses for boys and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Now he's 4 and thinks the greatest thing on earth is to run away from Mommy and lead her on a merry chase; the hotter the day the better. I'm sad thinking about giving up those dresses for him, too... :( Joanna Jones

[Chris Suppelsa]

Darn right! You can't go whittlin on the tent poles! :eek:

Its been played out :tounge_sm

[Quiverful]

We just came back from our annual fundraiser at the Wax Museum in Gettysburg. With 9 children from 8 months to 15 1/2 we get a lot of attention. We have 5 very active boys and they love play at the reenactments. They have wooden swords and canvas balls and marbles that we take to most reenacments. One reenacment we went to they used the wood pile and made forts to play in. Our only problem is with some members of our group that don't want to let the kids just "play". They would rather see them sit quietly somewhere or better yet, not even come out. We do notice that a lot of the spectators love to see the children playing. We had a number of 'tators yesterday that just wanted to take pictures of the children playing ball. One fellow even gave our little boys quarters after he took their picture. There will always be those in this hobby who don't like children or having them around. We are going to make sure that we are going to events where the children can be children and enjoy their times of dressing up and hopefully learn a lot in the process.

[LindaTrent]

Anyway -- I asked Megan after the event whether she was aware that she and her friends were dressed in clothes from the past. Did they feel as though they were wearing their own clothes, or did it feel as though they were dressing up? Megan said without hesitation that she felt as though she was wearing her own clothes. She told me, "I wasn't dressing up. I just sort of forgot all about modern times."

I've had similar experiences with "borrowed" children. Probably the best experience I had was WOTJ with Kathleen Kiger. Kathleen was an 11 year old, I believe, who was portraying my daughter. I was portraying a widow who was being courted by a wealthy planter. Her character was that of a spoiled little brat who got everything she wanted and saw my attentions toward my beau as a threat to her specialness.

Well, when the event was over I pulled Kathleen aside and asked her what she thought. She told me how much she loved the experience and that she wanted to do it again (which she did, as my daughter at SFS). I said there's only one thing though, I thought you were going to try to come between Hank and my characters when we'd start paying too much attention to each other and not enough toward you. I was shocked at her innocent answer -- "what do you think I was doing when I asked you to tell me a story? Or I began asking about slavery, or saw a spider, or..." Dang, she was right, I remember all that and the looong discussions she kept going. That kid had a million and one questions :rolleyes:

As Saturday began to fade away Hank's character was killed in an ambush and his body was brought back and laid in our little camp. The evening turned very somber with Hank's body lying there. Kathleen sat around the fire on my lap, along with a few others in our dwindling group asking me about death, dying, and the afterlife.

There was a bit of added tension brought in, unknowingly, by Julie Herczeg who was portraying my niece. It's been too long so I don't remember if it was the moon playing funny tricks, a lantern, or what, but Julie's dress did seem to glow in the dark a bit, and it scared Kathleen's character a few times, so we also discussed ghosts and the likelihood of their existance. The imagination of youth is precious.

Kathleen was a trooper, who put up with being captured and held prisoner along with the rest of us, walking miles upon miles, not knowing whether or not we'd be able to return to our camp for food, shelter, clothing, etc. Her real 21st century father, grandmother and grandfather were in our camp with us, and by the end of the event she had to deal with her character's grandfather (her real grandfather -- Fran Kiger, II) being tried and hanged as a traitor; her real life father (Fran Kiger, III) being discovered as a Confederate Lieutenant in civilian garb and sent off to Fort Delaware, her mother's fiance killed in an ambush, etc.

We had no idea things would turn out this way. Everything came as a complete surprise to all of us, and she took it all and loved every minute of it. If I ever had a daughter -- I'd want one just like Kathleen Kiger. :wink_smil

Linda.

[MissLottie]

Last weekend, we had a special event called Candlelight, were we, the reenactors don't enteract with the public and we "go about our daily lives" as it would have been in 1857 at Fort Nisqually.

On Friday Night of Candlelight, I was in the Factors House (it being a fancy upperclass house, home of Dr. and Mrs. Tolmie and their children in the 1850's) in the childrens bedroom. We were potraying Lettia Work's wedding recption in the parlor and the boys would go running down the hall to see their Aunt to see how pretty she was and what she was up to. The children had a grand time just being kids, and me and my friend had a good time too entertaining them (and they entertaining us too!).There were three children (siblings in real life) who grew up reenacting and they made it more real to me and also to the public!

And to whoever that was so sad that some didn't like the kids just playing and being kids, there were people back then too who didn't like kids just being kids either and they just wanted the kids to sit still and be quite too.

[Nevada Bugler]

We were potraying Lettia Work's wedding recption in the parlor and the boys would go running down the hall to see their Aunt to see how pertty she was and what she was up to.

So was there a chivarie party as well? The stories my mother used to tell about some of those chivarie parties... :eek:

________________________
Bill Scott
Hardaways Alabama Battery
Comstock Civil War Reenactors

[C.R. Henderson]

I can speak on the subject of "getting in to it" fairly easily from having been raised in the Hobby. I've been reenacting since I was 5 and have always been fully aware of what was going on around me. I have found that as I have gotten older, though, it seems a little harder to get in the right frame of mind than it used to. I now worry about how this hat works with a that uniform jacket or what is appropriate to wear at a certain event or catching up with friends on the goings on in "real life". It used to be that mom would give us our clothes to wear, dad would form the company and we would have a great weekend playing with our friends, trying to stay out of trouble, and seeing what we could get away with when mom wasn't looking- I'd imagine- in much the same way children back then would have done.
Now, I have 3 boys of my own to bring up in this wonderful part of life and they have the same great experiences I did at that age. It's great being a dad! :)
Enough reminiscing for me,
Chris Henderson

[MissLottie]

So was there a chivarie party as well? The stories my mother used to tell about some of those chivarie parties... :eek:

I don't think so, I donno, I wasn't in the Parlor. I do know that they did some dancing and that they ate cake. lol.

[dandl39]

I agree wholeheartedly! I think we (society in general) are making a huge mistake by not letting them just "be kids." All the responses to this thread prove the point perfectly. Too bad more educators and parents can't read this or see this at the various events!

[ElizabethClark]

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