Settling in, with 4 boys, ages 10-2, I'm certain was an acconplishment deserving of at least "Mother of the Year" for the young Wijtske (then almost 29, in 1955). And I must also add here that baby # 5 was on the way and would be the first (daughter) born in Canada.
So, with less than $100 and only a few personal belongings, Winnie and Cornelis had already determinied this wasn't any holiday abroad. Challenges they perhaps hadn't even thought of were awaiting them. There would be no turning back, no giving up. They would make this work.
As Winnie regaled me with tales of those initial days of adjustment, one memory stands out for me as sweet, yet profound. Early on she quickly saw how members of the community of Marysville reached out to these new Dutch neighbours, inviting them to church and ladie's groups with the hand of friendship.
As Winnie's 4 youngsters explored the neighbourhood and learned English with relative ease, it became quite apparent that a new baby was on the way. The ladies of the Reformed Baptist Church got together and organized a baby shower for the young mother, deciding they would go to her house with food and gifts, as is the custom here in the Maritimes.
Let me just interject at this point that in Holland, at that time, there was no such thing as a baby shower, so the concept was another totally foreign idea to the Laagland Winders.
Can you just picture the astonishment on Winnie's face when hearing a knock, she opened the door to several women standing on her front step (of one of the brick houses on "Brick Hill"), gifts and containers in hand, asking the bewildered Winnie if they could come in.
This is where I couldn't stop smiling and asking Winnie, "What did you do, what did you say?"
"Well, I stood back and said, welcome, welcome, come in". I remember Winnie telling me there were probably 20-30 women, all crowding into their very small living room and kitchen area, setting out food, laying presents--somewhere. Some of the details were sketchy at best, but I can imagine Winnie as she said, "Very nice" after opening each gift, still pondering why these women would do such a thing.
For me, the new custom not only presented Winnie with gifts for the new baby, it was the beginning of many new friendships, long-lasting and unconditional. That baby shower introduced a young Dutch mother to Canadian ways like no other event could have. She realized that her neighbours saw her as one of them and not the "foreigner" she may have thought they would have.
She was accepted into their lives and their ways, and she would have felt deeply the love and kindness extended to her. Yes, it's one my favourite "Winnie" stories, being a mother myself and remembering the baby showers I attended over the years for friends and family. I don't think any could compare to Winnie's "induction" into the Canadian "mothers" club". Her first (Canadian) daughter would also experience the baby shower parties, giving birth to a son and daughter, blessing Winnie and Cor with grandbabies to love and cherish.
I have lots more to share with you, but I'm saving these chronicles for later posts. Drop by again to Bits & Pieces, and don't forget to sign in and leave a comment. I love hearing from readers--lets me know this Blog isn't just floating in space for naught.
Blessings to you & "Yours",
Barb
PS: The 2 photos at the top are of Nellie, aged 7 months, and the other is of Cor with Nell and Hans
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