Last weekend I interviewed my grandmother to investigate what her life was like during World War II. She was excited to share stories of her early childhood and what it was like living in a house of seven people during a time when the United States when families survived on rations. My grandmother, born Lillian Botma, was seven years old when the US entered WWII. She lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her parents, two older sisters and her paternal parents from the Netherlands. In the back of their small house was a garden and a flock of pet ducks. Lillian's maternal grandparents from Holland lived in the house right behind theirs. Despite both sets of grandparents being Dutch, the grandparents found they had a language barrier and were unable to clearly communicate. In order to get by, they spoke broken English. The families took care of each other's well being, making sure all of their needs were met.
Lillian remembers eating fresh vegetables from their garden. She says meals always consisted of a meat source, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable. Most of the food was provided from what they could grow in their garden and what items could be obtained with rations. Meals were often cooked by her grandmother. The family of seven never seemed to go without when so many families struggled to feed mouths. She thinks the family did so well during the war due to her grandparents helping out with meals and supplying extra income for the household. Despite stories I have heard about the hardships many families faced during this time, my grandmother's interview is a reminder that not all families' diets were affected or drastically changed by the war.
Source:
Lillian Curtis interviewed by Emily Reth, South Bend, IN, November 25, 2017
Emily Reth
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