GROWING UP AS AN AMISH CHILD: A PERSONAL STORY by Miriam Rees
An honest journey from tradition to transformation

A Childhood Rooted in Simplicity, Faith, and Change

Not many people know that my early childhood was spent living as an Amish girl. I remained in that world until I was 11 years old. Sharing this part of my life isn’t easy—not because it was bad, but because it holds a deep blend of joy and hardship. This is a story of growing up Amish, coming from a big family, facing challenges, and eventually finding a new way of life.

Life in a Big Amish Family

I’m the oldest of nine children—eight girls and one boy. My little brother, the baby of the family, was born a full ten years after me, on April Fool’s Day no less! That day was filled with laughter and surprise—a bright memory that still warms my heart.

While our home was full of love, we had very little money. I remember moving often in my early years. One place we lived, which we later called “the shack,” was a tiny gray house that couldn’t keep the cold out. Despite the struggles, my childhood memories are filled with moments of warmth, especially learning to bake with my mom.

The Joy of Baking and Learning the Value of Work

Baking cookies and mini pies became a source of pride. We’d set up a little stand at the end of our driveway and sell our goods. The money I earned went into a journal my dad kept for me—a savings account I wouldn’t touch until I was older. I didn’t fully grasp the concept of money then, but I knew I was contributing. It gave me a sense of purpose and independence, even as a young child.

Growing Our Own Food and Living Off the Land

Our family garden was a key part of our survival. We planted, weeded, and harvested fresh vegetables. Summers were a whirlwind of baking, canning, and preserving food. I loved seeing the plants grow and helping to store them for winter. Although we didn’t have electricity, we made things work by using ice blocks from town to preserve dairy and meat.

These veggies from the garden were always great and fresh. A lot of them were then canned and stored in the basement for consumption as needed, especially during the winter time. Meats, such as chicken, we also canned for future uses as well. Summers were definitely our busiest times for baking, cooking, and canning.

We didn’t have electricity, so we always drove into town to the “ice box.” We would buy blocks of ice to store our dairy products in our basement. I’m a lacking a little in the details of this storing process as to how often we had to buy ice or what it was stored in. 

Winters were spent mostly sewing clothes for all of our growing bodies. There were definitely a lot of hand-me-downs available for the younger ones.

A Simple Life With Animals and Chores

We always had animals—chickens, dogs, horses, and sometimes goats or cows. Feeding the chickens was my job, and I had a particularly unfriendly rooster that made things interesting! As I grew older, I helped with butchering and plucking chickens. While it was messy work, I now miss the freshness and connection to where our food came from.

Leaving the Amish: A Turning Point

Everything changed when I was 11. Cousins who had left the Amish started visiting more frequently. One even moved nearby, and my father began spending time there—often staying out late. Things at home felt different. Tension replaced peace. One night, my sisters and I learned we were leaving the Amish faith.

The process was confusing. We didn’t understand what was happening, only that life as we knew it was changing. I remember hanging clothes on the line in the dark, praying for clarity and peace.

Facing Shunning and Finding Freedom

Soon after, the deacons from our Amish church visited to announce that we were leaving the community. They warned us of eternal consequences and separation from our extended family. The emotional weight of being shunned was heavy, especially as relatives came to persuade us to stay.

But change brought light. We started attending English-speaking churches with uplifting music and messages we could finally understand. For the first time, I felt spiritually connected. Our home filled with music—especially old hymns my father would play on Sunday drives. Slowly but surely, our family healed.

A New Life Rooted in Faith and Joy

Leaving the Amish was one of the most significant transitions of my life. While it brought challenges, it also brought joy, understanding, and a deepened relationship with God. Life became fuller, brighter, and more connected.

Today, I look back with gratitude—for the simplicity I once knew, for the strength our family found, and for the journey that brought me to where I am now.