Page 32 - SMH 2018 3rd edition

ommas

by Denise Cameron

These women were a very hearty group of women, never doing a lot for themselves. They focused on their family,
chores, and farm life. Mountain mommas endured much adversity and hardships carving out a life for themselves in
the mountains, but their reflections of work, culture and love knew no boundaries. Mountain mommas did most of
the caretaking. They made their family’s clothing, cooked, cleaned, tended the garden, and shared the responsibilities
of caring for livestock.

Clothing was handmade, including spinning, dying wool and weaving it into cloth. Buying cloth was considered a
luxury item and was seldom bought. When women got married, the community of mountain mommas would join
together in making her a quilt. Family came first, and never having the main role of providing income, she earned
money from selling chickens, canned sausage, or jam. With her earnings she would purchase processed cloth for mak-
ing items for her family. Flour mills in the 1930’s started using flowered pattern fabric when they realized women
were using their sacks for making clothing for their children. Laundry was never an easy task; it was carried to the
nearest creek and each item was hand washed, often using a washboard, then carried back to her home and then hung
from a close line to dry.

Cooking was usually over a fireplace, but smokehouses were used and also firepits. The nineteenth-century
changed that with the invention of cast iron stoves. When the men came in for supper, the family ate together form-
ing family bonds, and her children often sat at the table and read from the bible while she prepared supper. It also
bonded mountain momma friendships as they joined together in breaking beans, shucking corn, and canning. Recipes
are still widely used today that were created and passed on from generations of family and friends.

Communities and churches were small in the mountains. Families seldom went to town. Baptist Christianity was
the dominant religion. Being the primarily leaders of the home, mountain mommas were the religious governess. For
example, Sunday’s were spent making meals for revivals, prayer meetings and other church related events. The wom-
an would sing church hymns as they perform their daily duties.

Mountain mommas were primarily the caretakers. Doctors
weren’t widely available, so they had to take on the role of the
medic. Doctors also did not always have the highest medical
credentials or equipment. Illnesses were often treated with
home remedies made with plants that were introduced to them
from the Cherokee. Midwives were crucial in assisting in child-
birth. Grandmothers from the community commonly took the
role of midwife, as doctors were unable to make it to the home
in time for childbirth. During these early times, childbirth was
the number one killer of women. Grandmothers obtained the
role of birthing coach, obstetrician, as well as pharmacist. These
practices were learned from other grandmothers and passed
down.

My grandmother, Mary Christian, a true mountain momma

The every day hardships of mountain momma living could easily wear them down. But daily tasks sometimes led
to the beauty of these self-expressed women. Like when you hear old church hymns, see the beauty and feel the
warmth of a handmade quilt, the taste of your favorite recipe, or calling on grandmothers for health advice for your
family. Mountain mommas have enriched our lives in the past and continue to enrich our lives today.

32 Smoky Mountain Hiker