My mother told me that she was one of seven. Only three girls survived to adult age though and she was the youngest. The others had died from Kidney problems with what was then referred to as Bright's Disease. I think she said she was about twelve when she was diagnosed. It seems she was not expected to live either. She told me how she walked home with her mother who never said a word to her. I must have only been a kid when she told me the story but I think she said her mother had tears streaming down her face. I get the feeling her mother was probably emotionally spent after the deaths of four daughters and an adopted son but it just wasn't spoken about. I suppose that there was always an expectation of high child mortality but of course the British way is to put on a front.
When our son Andrew was little and being young his autism was far more of a nightmare I decided that I could not do the stiff upper lip thing. I don't mean I went about saying how hard life was but nor did I lie and I think people were better for it. I'd smile and say I was struggling but getting there. I found some lovely people who were full of love and support because I didn't push them away. People, I decided, need to know the truth about differences of all types.
The people who have gone before us never spoke of many things. Perhaps if they had, they would have been happier people.
Jill
So many babies and children died in those times, I don't know how the parents coped.
