Life Lessons From The Pennsylvania Dutch

The mother is the glue that holds the family together. She does not take a step, which does not educate herself, her husband, or others. So surely as she lifts a finger, or utters a word, or gives a direction, or casts an approving or disapproving look, that modifies the feelings, or the conduct, or the health, of those around her. Susan Kissinger has written a loving tribute to her mother, the one who held her family together during extremely difficult times in coal country Pennsylvania. Life Lessons From The Pennsylvania Dutch is a story and a guidebook of survival. Susan was born and raised during a time when the mother stayed home and raised the family, and the father worked to support the family. During Susan’s early years, things were going well enough, with each member of the family fulfilling their roles. Then at the age of nine, tragedy struck the family. Susan’s father was diagnosed with cancer and died soon after. Although her mother was devastated, she forged ahead and took over the family. She took a job, and wore two important hats, one as mother, and one as head of household and bread winner.
This is not a book that you will read once, and then store in your back files. This is a reference book that will be re-read, taught to, and discussed with your children. Susan passes the knowledge and wisdom from her mother on to everyone to share with each other in the family and pass down to the next generation. There are chapters devoted to the following topics: running a safe, organized and happy home, staying busy with activities like reading, crafts, independence, being grateful for the simple things in life, staying healthy, the virtues of being a woman and a mother, and helping others. Susan describes in detail in each chapter how to achieve each objective. At the end of each chapter is a how to list that can be followed by each member of the family.