The rolling hills. Dense woods. Farms. Harsh winters. Humid summers. Creeks. Rivers. Caves. Cliffs. Loving people. Nosey people. This was, in part, my experience of growing up in the Ruralhood in Missouri. Rural living in Missouri began for me in 1956. It meant you were part of a community and you got the best of everything the simple life could offer, except perhaps, opportunity because you lived so far from a city.
When I had to think of a thesis question for my graduate course, I thought about my rural culture. I thought about the benefits and the disadvantages of growing up rural. This brought to mind how rural roots seem to invoke negative emotions in some people. In fact "rural" seems to be something that we might just be encouraging our youth to flee. As teenage students we were told that the only way to escape such an injurious world of farming and poverty was education. No one ever told us, as students, that we could seek education and perhaps return to help our community home and be proud of our rural culture.
No matter where you grew up, that culture is worth exploring. Take at a look at your childhood home. It was a part of your life's recipe that made you the person you are today.
And so it is that the life of a rural child is filled with lessons learned and a life worth experiencing.
Although, I didn’t finish that graduate program, I am still interested in my rural roots. I want to share my thoughts on the mindsets and prejudices of rural living. And I have the desire to tell my experiences - the good and unsavory - of growing up in the Ruralhood.
When I had to think of a thesis question for my graduate course, I thought about my rural culture. I thought about the benefits and the disadvantages of growing up rural. This brought to mind how rural roots seem to invoke negative emotions in some people. In fact "rural" seems to be something that we might just be encouraging our youth to flee. As teenage students we were told that the only way to escape such an injurious world of farming and poverty was education. No one ever told us, as students, that we could seek education and perhaps return to help our community home and be proud of our rural culture.
No matter where you grew up, that culture is worth exploring. Take at a look at your childhood home. It was a part of your life's recipe that made you the person you are today.
And so it is that the life of a rural child is filled with lessons learned and a life worth experiencing.
Although, I didn’t finish that graduate program, I am still interested in my rural roots. I want to share my thoughts on the mindsets and prejudices of rural living. And I have the desire to tell my experiences - the good and unsavory - of growing up in the Ruralhood.
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5 comments:
I love the pic of your maternal grandparent's home. It reminds of me of Loretta Lynn's home in Cole Miner's Daughter. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Teresa .. great to learn a little of your background .. must have been fun .. just being a child in that time .. love hearing about it & I'm sure this will a wonderful legacy for your kids .. good thought .. Congratulations and enjoy the posts to come .. Hilary
A wonderful introduction, I look forward to reading more. I love the pictures I have seen so far. I think your new blog will be as interesting as your "old" blog.
I'm glad I found your blog. I too grew up in a rural environment on a farm in Northeast Arkansas. It made me who I am today and I love to write about those great days! I am your newest follower at Grace Grits & Gardening. Hope you will follow back:)) Talya
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