--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Jensen, Katie Cunningham collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 33 number: 7 published: 1930-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Katie Cunningham Jensen, “Does It Pay to Rear a Large Family?,” *Improvement Era* 33, no. 7 (May 1930): 491–492." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3307unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3307unse start_page: 491 end_page: 492 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1930-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3307unse publication_year: 1930 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1930, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Does It Pay to Rear a Large Family? Does It Pay to Rear a Lar^e Family? KATIE CUNNINGHAM JENSEN HAVING been asked this question repeatedly, I shall make a humble attempt at giving an intelligent answer. I am a woman whose business in life is that of being a mother; the mother of ten, nine of them living, mentally and physically fit and thoroughly human. The ques- tion is a big one to answer because the opinions of people differ ac- cording to belief, faith and an un- derstanding of life and its purpose. Life is a challenge to the human race. It is made up of interesting games. And where is the game that does not call for good sports- manship? Of all life's games the raising of a family is the most in- teresting, demanding sportsmanlike behavior from every member of the family group, especially the par- ents. I should like to answer this ques- tion by asking another. Does it pay to have a million dollars? At one time our American govern- ment put a valuation upon the life of each person . as being worth $100,000.00 to the country. Us- ing this as a basis, our ten chil- dren are worth just one million dollars to our nation, and there isn't enough money in the whole world to buy them from us. We consider it a great compliment to be entrusted with ten children and we are very grateful that our be separated from some of their wealth at times, but our experience enriched us, as it brought us nearer things divine and welded family ties, bringing hearts closer in our sorrow. As sorrow is only a pre- lude to joy, we consider we have saved one-tenth of our fortune to be used sometime in the future when we shall all meet in that mysterious yet glorious unknown. I am considered extremely old- fashioned because I am always placing my large family before modern society to be gazed upon, congratulated or condemned. I could be likened unto the old woman who lived in a shoe only I know what to do and she didn't, for I am quite familiar with most of the articles that have been writ- ten on birth-control by men and women of renown. They would be surprised if I should tell them all I know concerning the visits of Mr. Stork. I do not deny there are many large families whose financial and educational problems are enormous, but on the other hand whole volumes could be written on improper dress, careless living, antipain tablets and women who enjoy poor health. An hon- est physician will confess that our hospitals are kept going by women who have every ailment under the sun except that of a good sized family. LO A. A. *- *_» » great law. I do not see reason for any couple to be childless when there are so many "already" born children crying unconsciously for love and a home. It is easy for us to live for our very own, but who can count the blessings that must come to those who have mothered the children belonging to someone else? COME years ago we lost a part ° of our wealth. A little child of four years was taken on to an- other life. All millionaires must 'T'HE human race inherits a long- ing for the gift of happiness. If we look for it we find it. It is the end of religion, the object of philosophy, the dream of the wretched, the quest of the whole world. Happiness is great love and much service. Life is something to do, not something to learn. I question whether anyone has greater love and gives more service, unless it be the Master who said, "Let the little ones come unto me," than the parents of a large family. The strongest comforts of faith are The Author beyond reason, and a little scent- laden breeze of heaven blowing in the back- window of memory will touch the heart of even the hard- ened one who thinks he has out- lived and forgotten, "rock me to sleep, mother," and "now I lay me down to sleep." And what is a home that lacks the touch of babyhood? When my first chil- dren were babies, I knew very little about child-training, diet and eu- genics, for I was only a child myself. But I did know I loved them, and when I sang those lul- labies were only my heart-beats throbbing out loud as my little one crawled up into my lap to go to sleep. And our little "number ten" is a luxury so in demand by the grown ups in our family that they take it in turns when bed-time comes, as they get a little glimpse of heaven through his sleepy brown eyes and soft little arms clinging about their necks. T WONDER if parents know 4 what it means to create memo- ries that are going to stay green when life's stronger impressions have gone. We hear much discus- cir*n rnnrcrTiiriflf nxrppri \ rit>r\xrf> „ ^-..^-^^^ — .. — ..„. * that the raising of a large family is a career and should top the list. Many women never think that motherhood is a glorious career. They do not believe the making of a home that is a place of peace and rest and beauty an artistic achieve- ment. They never think of help- ing their husbands to succeed, and putting fresh hope and courage into their hearts, as being worth while. They never think that in molding their children's character they are helping decide the fate of human- ity, and that nothing else that any 492 The Improvement Era for May, 1930 one does is half so important. It is a challenge to a woman to be called a good mother. To be such she must be an executive, she must be intelligent and tactful, wise and cheerful, patient and untiring. She should have a certain knowledge of finance and economics. To be a good father to a large group one must be a manly man, a gentle man, ambitious and dependable, temperate, honest in work and play. He should make a study of finance, and both mother and father should be optimists. Can any career demand more of two people? When our children reach the school age we are supposed to know everything from the three r's to algebra and Latin. It is pleas- ant and stimulating to go back to those dear old school- days of our own youth through the similar ex- periences of our children. And what a satisfaction it is for parents to help their children go up the same ladder they tried to climb themselves for it is an inborn in- stinct of parenthood to give to our children the things we could not have ourselves. COME have said the small family *^ gets all educational and other ad- vantages and turns out higher type of citizens thereby. But what if the Wesley family had stopped with fourteen children? The world would never have been given the leadership of John and Charles Wesley, for John was the fifteenth and Charles the eighteenth child. If the Franklin family had stopped with nine children, heredity would never have given Benjamin Frank- lin to American history, for he was a tenth child. If the Scott family had stopped with eight children we would never have heard from the great spirits that stalked through Sir Walter Scott's novels. He was a ninth child. If the Bach family had stopped with seven children, the world would have been robbed of a wealth of loveli- ness for Johann Sebastian Bach was the eighth child. The family that gambles on two or three chil- dren may rob the world of a pos- sible genius. I claim a large family is good for society, has broader views, is more unselfish and is learning self- control through continual contact with others. My own children try out their wits on each other, take the conceit out of each other and learn to work and play to- gether. They must take responsi- bility early. Yes, they may fall a little short when it comes to luxury and travel, but will that matter so much? HTHEY learn the value of love and service. Our boy of twen- ty is in France carrying a message of peace for the Master. We miss him from the home group, but this is only the result of a lesson on service. In this family game we find ourselves cornered at times, but with such a large group pulling together for one great cause we soon find the clouds have vanished and we march on, having tasted the satisfaction of achievement. O, yes, we have the usual family chest where disappointments, heart- aches, sorrows and near tragedies are laid carefully away, never to be entirely forgotten. But we keep our chest covered with a tied and dyed scarf, shaded red and blue and gold; tied and dyed with patience, loyalty, tollerance, for- giveness and love. Rarely do we disturb the contents of the chest except it be to learn anew the lesson taught by that which lies within. And then we shake the soft rich velvet with its glorious hues and drape it in its place to guard over our treasure and all is peace and rest again. The chest with its beautiful cover is only a gentle reminder which brings into every heart in the home the desire to live a better life. We have all made serious mistakes but my ob- servation has taught me there are just as many unpleasant happen- ings in the small family as in the large one. It is the mother's priv- ilege to turn the key in the lock against prying eyes, unkind criti- cism and thoughtless gossip. And how often she is smiling just to hide the tears! HTHE children of today expect 1 other things of their parents than simply to feed and clothe them. They want us to be careful of our personal appearance and know how to do things. They don't want us to stay home and let the world go by. To be a parent with balance we must make leisure time and use it profitably, know something about the latest books, plays and music, know how to dance and play, and enjoy devel- opment along with our children. We have passed the day when par- ents are expected to grow old and climb on the shelf. Good mothers make better mothers sometimes by getting away from home cares oc- casionally and indulging in a hobby. One writer says, "Some say children are a nuisance and I admit they keep us out of bridge clubs, poker games, shows and teas, and they also keep us out of the divorce court." I know many mothers who are doing real things for the community; one who has a family of twelve grown children is leading a group of fifty thousand young women; two others who are conducting a radio studio very suc- cessfully, another who is editing a magazine, and many more using their leisure time in giving service. And these women are all the moth- ers of large families. It is true that women who seek happiness through love and service are su- perior, mentally, .spiritually, mor- ally, and physically. They have been trained while training others, sharing responsibility, ambition, achievement and appreciation. They are sweet and pleasant to look upon. As this game of family life goes on we taste the courting age again, the age of romance. The (Continued on page 508)