I was delighted to meet the great grandmother of my 3 year old grandson on the Swedish side who live in the countryside in Rimforsa by a lake, not far from Linkoping, where summer houses abound and the Swedes ‘down tools’ for the month of July and take time off work on mass and move to the country areas and live a sociable and an outdoor life. What I found particularly interesting is that ‘Farmor’ the Swedish name for a grandmother on the paternal side, was juggling 4 generations and managing to run a home and enjoy a wide range of outdoor pursuits and practical daily living enjoying family visits.
I experienced a carefree and uncomplicated way of life with no deadlines, surrounded by nature family and friends. It is a slower and simpler way of living and there is a lot to be said for it. This calm approach has captivated my daughter who married a Swedish doctor and lives in the south of Sweden ten minutes from the sea, near to Malmo. Her Swedish family come from a country part of Sweden near to a large town where they have lived for many generations.
The 3 hour train journey from Lund took us into the countryside through woodland and many huge lakes.
Arriving at the home, a wooden traditional built house which has been in the family for 3 generations, with additions.
There are more modern versions all built in the same traditions with verandas around the house with decking on different levels. All set in quiet roads off the main roads by a lake.
Most houses had gardens and my family grow all their fruit and vegetables and enjoy plants . Many houses are built of wood and in this area have a similar style
The Visit
One day we collected Anne Marie, the great Grandmother and was also privileged to be invited to her nursing home nearby. She was all packed up and ready to go.. Anne-Marie was collected by her daughter (‘Farmor’) to join the family for a number of short family visits which involved all generations. The smile on her face said it all. She loved watching and being part of the relaxed day-to-day routine. This was a slower pace and quitter way of life than I am used to and I enjoyed a gentler flow without any rushing which was part of this family’s natural way.
We drove to the care home to collect her with her walking aid. The Home was relaxed and it seemed very welcoming with ease of comings-and-goings.
As Anne-Marie had recently moved into the care home from this home, she knew every aspect of the house and moved confidently into the respective rooms and just sat and became part of what was going on with her grand and great grandchildren playing around her.
There were many places to sit outside to see different views, from the lakes to the graduated natural garden which enabled the family to almost be self-sufficient with summer fruits and vegetables. The grandchildren enjoyed trips to pick and bring back into the house and then help with the cooking.
All part of Swedish LARGOM which is the Swedish art of living a balanced and happy life… a reminder the important things of life. During the summer months long hours are spent eating home-baked cinnamon buns, home made waffles, swimming in the sea an soaking up the sun by the lakes.
This was taken very seriously by my grandson, during which the English ‘Mormor’ (Grandmother on the maternal side) was banned!
The Kitchen
Both indoors and outdoors.
It was wonderful to observe how a very active child became so absorbed in the daily activities and worked with each generation to help with many chores around the house as well as play together.
Outside there was a small house, a museum, which used to be owned by a fisherman and his mother where they were housed by a local resident after being evacuated from an nearby lake island where they lived a reclusive life. It was like having a living museum of a different era with the way of life kept completely intact.
Little boys are naturally curious and loved to come into this miniature Swedish home for some pretend play on his own.
It was noticeable how risk adverse living was not a feature and how safety was taught in the flow of copying and observing with instruction. This covered the use of knives, being around old objects to walking vs running on the jetty by the lakes. The relaxed style seemed to be adopted by the others around…..
Cycling, swimming and boating on the lake
Going down to the lake was quite an expedition with truck laden with towels, picnic, bucket and spades. Even a much loved trycicle which had been loved by his father when he was also 3 years old!
Cycling, swimming and boating on the lake…one seemed to flow into the other…
The Fishing Expedition: At the front of the house was the lake, with a short walk to take the oars and equipment from the garage to the jetty where small boats were moored owned by locals.
To conclude, the ‘fuss-free’ living is a captivating way of life which left us feeling relaxed and content. Much of this came from a feeling of ‘being together’ and sharing a calmer way of living, where people take time to do things in an uncomplicated way. This is the country where outdoor nurseries were part of the ‘norm’ which some are trying to emulate over here. A different set of priorities and an antithesis of living in the hustle and bustle of life Surrey!