Anonymous wrote:Like Catholics, Mormons, and other religious groups with big families, they expect the older children (especially the older daughters, but sons too) to help. It’s a lot easier to handle a bunch of kids when the big ones change diapers, wipe noses, put on shoes, read books, etc.
Anonymous wrote:Families with disabilities get driven out of the community so they stop dressing Orthodox.
Anonymous wrote:Fear.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spare the rod, spoil the child.
I’m not familiar with the orthodox being big spankers.
Oh yes they are and they hit their wives
Anonymous wrote:Families with disabilities get driven out of the community so they stop dressing Orthodox.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Well, they’ve probably never seen a screen/ipad in their life. Unless their mom is “influencer”
They haven’t seen too many books in their lives either. They are not brought up like other American children. Education consists solely of religion information and the women are expected to marry at a very early age and produce many children.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Also bear in mind you’re seeing these kids on their best behavior. People always tell me my large family is so well behaved and that is, uh, not my impression…
Aw give yourself more credit! But I am curious - do you take them all out yourself on outings? do you go to religious services?
I also come from a large religious family and I think we appeared pretty organized in public although the only place we went together indoors was church. I wonder if the needed discipline in public to manage a lot of kids at a religious service is part of the way the kids and parents “learn” the skills needed to appear so calm and orderly.
I think this is part of it too. We switched from a non-denominational Christian church to a Catholic Church when my oldest was in first grade. It wasn’t immediate, but there was definitely a change in the kids’ behavior over the next year or so. When your family has to figure out how to be calm and obedient for an hour a week, it kind of spills over into the rest of your lives.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think being serious about religion requires a lot of self- discipline. So it could be that religious parents have self-discipline and their children are more likely to be self-disciplined as well.
The other aspect is that these families have a strong culture and exist a little bit outside of mainstream American culture. So while I am sure they are influenced by parenting trends in pop culture, they likely also receive a lot of community support for parenting more or less like their parents did.
If all the women have 8 kids - what kind of support would be available? Oh, I'll watch 16 kids while you get your hair done?
The orthodox Jewish moms probably aren’t getting their hair done, but for the dentist or something, by the time you have eight kids the oldest ones are able to watch the younger ones for a bit or at least be left alone. “Hey Chaya can you keep my baby and toddler while I get a filling” is not a heavy lift.
Anonymous wrote:I think being serious about religion requires a lot of self- discipline. So it could be that religious parents have self-discipline and their children are more likely to be self-disciplined as well.
The other aspect is that these families have a strong culture and exist a little bit outside of mainstream American culture. So while I am sure they are influenced by parenting trends in pop culture, they likely also receive a lot of community support for parenting more or less like their parents did.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spare the rod, spoil the child.
I’m not familiar with the orthodox being big spankers.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Well, they’ve probably never seen a screen/ipad in their life. Unless their mom is “influencer”
Could be! I also wonder if there are just better developed parenting skills in the community since most families are large, and children are considered a blessing so they are treated with more care? I obviously am also familiar with the criticisms of orthodox communities, but you never really hear of child abuse or neglect being a big part of that.
Anonymous wrote:I sometimes see large Orthodox Jewish families out and about and the kids are so calm and presentable! Yesterday I saw a dad on his own with 6 kids that all appeared to be under 12, including two babies in a double stroller. The kids were all calm and happy, played with the babies, and stuck close to dad. Dad appeared a little weary (seems normal) but nothing like the extreme exhaustion I know I would project if I went out with six kids. I did not hear a single whine or argument from the kids or a single harsh word from the dad. Amazing! How do they do it?