Amish Children: Just Too Cute!

I gotta admit it. Amish children are too cute.

The "mom" in me wants to cuddle 'em in my arms. They dress like miniature adults, speak Deutch before English - which they learn in kindergarten - have angelic innocent faces, and they're entrusted with fieldwork and kitchen duty before they leave elementary school.

Ever try talking to their wee ones at Walmart? They gaze at you like deer caught in headlights.

Why? First, they probably don't have a clue what you're saying as you're speaking English and they don't understand your foreign language!

Second, they've probably been sternly warned, "Baheft dich!" Translation: behave yourself! If you would've asked, "vhee getes?" they would understand you to ask, "How's it going?"

What? Why? How? An ex-Amish Interview

Amish Jonas (Josh)

English Josh

I interviewed 25-year-old Josh, asking the questions some of you might ask him. Josh is a valued part of our Nixon family; legally he’s my son-in-law’s cousin so we are related by marriage but, Josh has moved into our hearts; emotionally he belongs to us.

  What was the best part of growing up Amish?
 
"For me, the best part was sitting around the table to eat with family; Amish seem to value family. They all help each other such as barn raisings (nobody gets paid). Amish make a lot of their own things like food, clothes, and furniture. They work hard. Kids are taught to work for a living, no sitting around playing video games while expecting someone else to pay the bills."

  What do you feel was a challenge to being Amish?