back breaking work at 12 yrs.

@bunnybon7 (50973)

Holiday, Florida

April 9, 2022 5:19am CST

So when I was 12 yrs old, my mom and second step dad moved the 3 of us to Michigan for the summer to work for a farmer. My step dad Arlie knew so much about farming that the owner made him the boss. Back then kids were allowed to work and make money too and I was working for my school clothes. I was obviously a very good worker because the second day of hoeing cucumber plants (very back breaking work) Arlie ended up firing 3 adults. He said " That 12 year old girl passed you guys up several times today." pointing at me. I was a bit embarrassed

but also very proud of myself. I worked 5 hours a day 6 days a week. But it wasn't too bad cause I was young and we had a group of migrants we were friends with and off times, the adults would gather in one of the shacks and play cards and drink while all us under 18 yrs would hang out and play, dance, and some even make out a bit.

In fact I had a few boyfriends over the next 4 yrs that we followed the group. Some would go back to their homes after the summer though and every time I think of or hear "Sealed with a kiss" I think of those days,

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23 responses

@marlina (154131)

• Canada

9 Apr 22

My first job was as a babysitter at $0.25 an hour, believe it or not.

4 people like this

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@marlina (154131)

• Canada

9 Apr 22

@cacay1 ,. Yes, they were but still one could not get too many things with such a small amount of money.

3 people like this

@cacay1 (83480)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

9 Apr 22

but the prices of commodities during that time might be very low compared this time.

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@cacay1 (83480)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

9 Apr 22

@marlina hoping there was increase then after some days.

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@LadyDuck (471500)

• Switzerland

9 Apr 22

Kids worked in the farms when I was young. I remember that some of my cousins helped their parents in their farms.

2 people like this

@cacay1 (83480)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

9 Apr 22

@LadyDuck, what were the productions? Were they paid?

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@LadyDuck (471500)

• Switzerland

10 Apr 22

@cacay1 They worked for their parents, NO they were not paid. My uncle had many fruit trees, particularly peaches, plums and pears. They picked up the fruits.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

maybe they were not big enough to hire from outside? This farmer had several fields and orchards. of various things.

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@Juliaacv (51190)

• Canada

10 Apr 22

I grew up on a family farm. We were out in the fields hoeing at a very early age, I was probably about 9 or 10. We were out there from 8-noon and then again from 1 until 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon. We thought nothing of it, it was just what had to be done, and honestly there are harder physical jobs on the farm then hoeing. Cleaning up a brush pile or picking up stones in the early spring are harder jobs and those I would call back breaking.

2 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

Yes carrying big buckets of water and wood stacking,.I have also bent over all day picking those cucumbers once they had grown and pulling and chopping onions. Picking crates of potatoes out of the peet moss. I've probably picked, carried, and packed just about every fruit and vegetable you can mention.

2 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

@Juliaacv Oh yes. My step dad took a whole crew of 4 other families to a couple of farms a few times with us and we picked tomatoes put in baskets a few times. I remember the first couple of days I did that, I ate only tomatoes for several meals and ended up embarrassed by peeing the bed

and two of the other girl slept with me. Imagine that. uugghh. My mom said it was from eating too many tomatoes. Lesson learned.

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@Juliaacv (51190)

• Canada

11 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 Oops, I am sure that you ate other things after that. I never really cared for raw tomatoes, I like them in stews and sauces but only when they are cooked.

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

10 Apr 22

I’ve read about people who followed the crops and I envied them. It sounded like lots of fun for young people.

2 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

It is. Probably more so for me because I was an only child and it gave more kids to hang out with that I was in a common situation with.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

12 Apr 22

@RubyHawk I used to envy the girl at school whos dad owned a gas station and she always had all the beautiful clothes and such she wanted, lived in a nice house with her own room and ran with the "in" crowd. She took my crush away from me. He worked on the farm with me but in school, she ordered him around and he followed her like a puppy.

She soon broke his heart though and I got to pick up the pieces

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@RubyHawk (99405)

• Atlanta, Georgia

12 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 Sounds like traveling with the crops was good for you. I used to envy those kids I read about.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (16389)

• Raurkela, India

9 Apr 22

Where are you these days? Aren't you staying with your family?

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

I am old and disabled and live with my daughter and her common law husband in Florida.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (16389)

• Raurkela, India

12 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 Hope you are safe and happy with them. Take care.

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@nela13 (58667)

• Portugal

9 Apr 22

You have a good memory there, nowdays it would be considered child work because you were very young.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

yes not long after that a mexican governor got the law changed.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

12 Apr 22

@nela13 but I had fun too with other kids evenings and week ends and rainy days, etc.

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@nela13 (58667)

• Portugal

11 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 yes, you were too young to work the all summer.

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@snowy22315 (180674)

• United States

9 Apr 22

I can relate to the back breaking work. I picked strawberries once 4 hours out i the sun...that was enough! I think I ate as many as I picked too.

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@snowy22315 (180674)

• United States

13 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 Yeah, although it was kind of fun, and I earned alittle money. The sunburn I got wasn't worth it.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

@snowy22315 O h yes, that's why so many wear hats or scarves. and it's bad if you pick fruit from a tree because not only is it hot but you have to wear long sleeves to keep from getting your arms all scratched up and gloves too.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

I learned a lot about over indulging but it took several times. When I picked tomatoes, I ate so many I peed the bed. Very embarrassing when sleeping with 2 other girls from our group.

Then while picking blueberries, I ate so many, I had a stomach ache all night and couldn't sleep.

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@celticeagle (166911)

• Boise, Idaho

9 Apr 22

You should be proud of yourself. I usually spent my summers at my grandparent's and helped them in their 1/4 acre garden. I know about back-breaking work.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

back in our days kids always worked unless your parents were rich.

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@celticeagle (166911)

• Boise, Idaho

12 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 .......Yes, and knew better than to say anything about it.

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@sjvg1976 (41281)

• Delhi, India

10 Apr 22

I started working at the age of 17 years, I used to teach kids just to earn pocket money.

2 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

Nice to have pocket money. I was allowed to waste a few dollars now and then.

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@marlina (154131)

• Canada

9 Apr 22

You were extremely strong, too bad the money had to be used to buy school clothes.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

Yes but it taught me the value of work too.

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@cacay1 (83480)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

9 Apr 22

That seems unforgettable, but age 12 already working that's memorable. I haven't experienced working like that. I was in school busy studying.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

I was in school too during school months but still worked evenings and weekends.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

14 Apr 22

@cacay1 I guess I was

@cacay1 (83480)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

14 Apr 22

@bunnybon7, you were great and am sure your pocket was always money full. Are you a workaholic type?

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

10 Apr 22

That seems like tough work, but after work sounds like summer camp! I babysat for $1 and hour. When I turned 16, my mother asked a magazine salesmen where he worked and made me apply for the job. I lasted two weeks and quit.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

you probably didn't need the money.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

@DianneN sorry you couldn't stand the job

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

11 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 I did! My father was very stingy unless it involved food in our bellies and clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads

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@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Apr 22

What great memories to have although it does sound like you worked hard. I love that song 'Sealed with a Kiss'. I remember it well.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

Yes and it seems you started a trend here too. Everyone is happy to be talking about their childhood and school days.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

14 Apr 22

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@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 It's because we're all old!!

Old people like talking about their childhoods - mostly, anyway.

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@Kandae11 (55005)

•

10 Apr 22

Even though it was back breaking work, you have good memories too.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

yes thats the way of most lives.

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@shaggin (72131)

• United States

9 Apr 22

Here kids can work at 14 legally. I’m sure people at 12 do things under the table but it wouldn’t be legal to hire them. You definitely should have been proud of yourself for your hard work compared to those lazy adults! As always thank you @Gillygirl for suggesting this. You must adore Bonnie as much as I do.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

Oh my, I love you and @Gillygirl,too

thank you,@shaggin

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@rebelann (112872)

• El Paso, Texas

9 Apr 22

Consider yourself lucky. When I was between the ages of 11 and 18 I wasn't allowed to work, dad was career Army and believed that women shouldn't be working except in the house etc.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

that's terrible for a kid wanting independence.

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@rebelann (112872)

• El Paso, Texas

11 Apr 22

When I was a kid independence wasn't an issue ......... yet.

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@RasmaSandra (79833)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

10 Apr 22

You were a good hard worker I think that was great that you did what you had to do and did not complain and even got some fun too, I remember that song nice that it brings you good memories,

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

11 Apr 22

Yes when I hear a song it always reminds me of something going on in my life at the time.

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@LindaOHio (178568)

• United States

9 Apr 22

Those were the days when kids knew the value of a dollar and knew how to work. Thank you for your story.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

your welcome

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@arunima25 (87806)

• Bangalore, India

9 Apr 22

As children we helped adults in all the chores around the house and even outside. Many children worked on the farms with their family. We learnt so much by doing together with the family.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

You do learn a lot about life with that.

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@arunima25 (87806)

• Bangalore, India

14 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 Yes, we do.. experiential learning is more effective.

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@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Apr 22

Good memories of you helping in the garden. Things have changed these days.

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Apr 22

It was not a garden. It was a large farm where they hired lots of workers to grow and harvest many fruits and vegetables to take to market.

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@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 Apr 22

@bunnybon7 I enjoy the farmer’s markets.

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