Family And Social Life
Traditionally, families in Fox Harbour have tended to be large in number.   Family planning was unheard of before the 1960's and women continued to bear children until their fertile years were behind them.  Not only were there a large number of children, but families often included widowed parents, who were taken in and looked after in their golden years.  They helped around the house, cared for the younger children and helped keep the family supplied with knitted socks, mitts, sweaters and even underwear.  When the older folks became ill or bedridden, it was expected that they would be taken in by the family, and in most cases, they were tended to and lovingly cared for in the warmth -of the family circle.  The extended family would often include other relatives such as maiden aunts or disabled siblings, who all contributed in some way to the well-being of the family.  Placing elderly parents or relatives in nursing homes was not yet an option, nor was it a perceived need.
	People in small communities were bound together by the Church.  In Fox Harbour there was just one religion, that being Roman Catholic and just about everyone in the community attended church regularly.  Family values were reinforced by the church and when there was a church service, with or without clergy, many people would attend.  The priest played a leading role in many aspects of the community, especially education.  He represented the Department of Education, in the hiring of teachers and the building and maintenance of schools. In the early years of the century, and up into the 1960's and 70's, children were "seen but not heard" and discipline in the home was much stricter than it is today.  There were rules to follow and to disobey usually meant punishment.  "Spare the rod and spoil the   child" was an axiom truly believed and acted upon in many homes.  Life could be hard; money was scarce and bringing up a large family could be difficult at times.  Parents, especially fathers, did not openly display affection for their children, but their very lives were spent ensuring the health, well-being and safety of their large families.  Of course, children were expected to carry their share of household tasks especially if a parent was ill or had died.  Girls generally helped the mother in the home and boys performed outside tasks such as getting wood for the stove, bringing water, etc.  Some chores were shared by all e.g., making hay, sowing and harvesting vegetables, and tending fish on the flakes. Before the advent of running water and indoor toilets, one of the "delightful" tasks girls performed was known as emptying the pail.  This meant bringing the night bucket (pail) to the beach and disposing of its contents in the sea.  Water used for laundry was often rain from "rain barrels," saved for this purpose.  This water was considered good for washing because it was a softer water. Clothes were dried on the line outdoors and finished indoors on a line over the stove.  Women loved to dry their clothes on the grass because it was claimed that grass made the whites whiter.  Household laundry was done by using a washtub and scrubbing board with homemade soap, after water had been heated on the stove.  Bathing was strictly sponge method, using a pan and washcloth. Washing one's hair was done in the same manner and always followed by a dousing with ice cold water, which was supposed to prevent one's catching "head cold."
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