Until the 1960s, infants were plucked from orphanages and maternity wards and used as “practice babies” in college home economics department across the country. Award-winning writer Jill Christman was determined to find out what happened to them. Along the way, five months pregnant herself, with her hormones (and anxiety) raging, she also hoped to discover what it means to Until the 1960s, infants were plucked from orphanages and maternity wards and used as “practice babies” in college home economics department across the country. Award-winning writer Jill Christman was determined to find out what happened to them. Along the way, five months pregnant herself, with her hormones (and anxiety) raging, she also hoped to discover what it means to be a mother. Jill Christman’s memoir, Darkroom: A Family Exposure, won the AWP Award Series in Creative Nonfiction. Recent essays have appeared in Barrelhouse, Brevity, Fourth Genre, Iron Horse Literary Review, and other journals, magazines, and anthologies. She teaches creative nonfiction writing in Ashland University’s low-residency MFA program and at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she lives with her husband, writer Mark Neely, and their two children. Visit her at Jillchristman.com. This is a short e-book published by Shebooks--high quality fiction, memoir, and journalism for women, by women. For more information, visit http://shebooks.net.
Borrowed Babies: Apprenticing for motherhood
Until the 1960s, infants were plucked from orphanages and maternity wards and used as “practice babies” in college home economics department across the country. Award-winning writer Jill Christman was determined to find out what happened to them. Along the way, five months pregnant herself, with her hormones (and anxiety) raging, she also hoped to discover what it means to Until the 1960s, infants were plucked from orphanages and maternity wards and used as “practice babies” in college home economics department across the country. Award-winning writer Jill Christman was determined to find out what happened to them. Along the way, five months pregnant herself, with her hormones (and anxiety) raging, she also hoped to discover what it means to be a mother. Jill Christman’s memoir, Darkroom: A Family Exposure, won the AWP Award Series in Creative Nonfiction. Recent essays have appeared in Barrelhouse, Brevity, Fourth Genre, Iron Horse Literary Review, and other journals, magazines, and anthologies. She teaches creative nonfiction writing in Ashland University’s low-residency MFA program and at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she lives with her husband, writer Mark Neely, and their two children. Visit her at Jillchristman.com. This is a short e-book published by Shebooks--high quality fiction, memoir, and journalism for women, by women. For more information, visit http://shebooks.net.
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Kristen –
I read this as part of a deep dive into the Practice Houses of the 1920s-1950s. I'm so glad I did and I'm so glad that it was mostly about Jill's reflection of her own impending motherhood and the subject position of mother. Really lovely, short piece. I have the pleasure of knowing Jill in real life and it made the reading experience all the more meaningful. So generous to herself, which I absolutely loved. I read this as part of a deep dive into the Practice Houses of the 1920s-1950s. I'm so glad I did and I'm so glad that it was mostly about Jill's reflection of her own impending motherhood and the subject position of mother. Really lovely, short piece. I have the pleasure of knowing Jill in real life and it made the reading experience all the more meaningful. So generous to herself, which I absolutely loved.
Cher –
I was appalled at the fact that this was nonfiction! Really? How have I never heard of this before? After reading this book, I want to know more...I want to know what effect being "practice babies" had on these children in the years afterwards. I want to know how prevalent this practice was. I want to know what a typical day, week or month was like in these children's lives and how did they ever develop attachments and trust and well, everything!! I have so many questions and the author implies I was appalled at the fact that this was nonfiction! Really? How have I never heard of this before? After reading this book, I want to know more...I want to know what effect being "practice babies" had on these children in the years afterwards. I want to know how prevalent this practice was. I want to know what a typical day, week or month was like in these children's lives and how did they ever develop attachments and trust and well, everything!! I have so many questions and the author implies she was unable to find more information during her research. I plan to search for more books on this subject now that I have become aware of "borrowed babies". One more small note, the book end quite abruptly...I am not ready for the end when the last words are done.
Steven Harvey –
It is Jill Christman's voice--honest, funny, serious, open to making mistakes, self-corrective, self-revealing--that wins me over to this book. I care about her subject--the babies and those who nurture them--but I also care for the mother-to-be, who is Christman herself, anxiously making her way through this world of maternity which she is about to enter. It is Jill Christman's voice--honest, funny, serious, open to making mistakes, self-corrective, self-revealing--that wins me over to this book. I care about her subject--the babies and those who nurture them--but I also care for the mother-to-be, who is Christman herself, anxiously making her way through this world of maternity which she is about to enter.
Sarah Wells –
Fascinating account of a soon-to-be mother considering what it takes to be a mom alongside the story of a home economics program to teach young women how to be "the best" mothers. Jill's voice comes through strong and with her usual grace and power. Fascinating account of a soon-to-be mother considering what it takes to be a mom alongside the story of a home economics program to teach young women how to be "the best" mothers. Jill's voice comes through strong and with her usual grace and power.
Sheri Fresonke Harper –
Jill Christman writes a plush, emotional story of her search for understanding how to be a good mother by examining a program in Home Economics run by Cornell U. The tale of babies adopted or borrowed for use in the program is different from the usual university study.
ellen –
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Robin Mandell –
Cindie –
Andrea Stewart –
Lindsay –
Alice –
Lauren Cross –
Taylor Brown –
Sarah –
Andrea –
Melissa Grunow –
Victoria –
Christine Morton –
Heather –
Sherri Landis –
Ash –
Pennygale –
Arielle –
Cora –
Molly Ferguson –
Ellie I –
Robert Young –
Courtney –
Katie Ellington –
Rani –
Audrey –