Is it true that moms taught older daughters how to give enemas?

Does anyone agree that during the old days, through the 50’s, that moms taught older daughters how to give enemas? If little brother needed one, did big sister learn by giving him enemas?

Not in our house. Mom administered all of the enemas. IF my older sister tried to give me one there would have been one helluva fight!

If little brother needed one did big sister learn by giving him enemas?

Nope - my big sister never gave me an enema, and I don't ever remember her getting one.

I seriously doubt that ever happened

Certainly a hundred years ago, it was common for older siblings were given some responsibilities for the care of younger ones especially in large families with 8 or more kids. It was simply impossible for the mom to do everything. Whether or not that extended to enemas, I have no idea, but I can see a 16 year old daughter doing such a task. After all, such a girl would soon have a family of her own.

There was mother-daughter “education” during the few enemas I gave to my two girls, who are now grown in their 20s or early 30s. I've always been a teacher at heart. Jen, my older, in particular, wanted to know why and how. (This was like 10-15 years ago, not in the 1950s.) She thought about nursing while in high school but ultimately decided on law. As far as giving an enema to her younger sister, I seriously doubt that would happen. However, for about three years, Jen had a roommate, a hospital dietitian, and Jen did tell me that she gave her enemas once when she was ill. I never asked for details, but I'm glad Jen knew how to do it safely and sensibly.

It's probably just another one of many excellent fantasy scenarios for us diehard klismo's. Would love to see the movie.

Enemas were semi frequent affairs in our house growing up but at no time was I a practice patient for a sibling.

Teaching came from being shown how to make up the enema and being given one.

Or maybe she was like my Mom.

Her Mom gave her so many enemas that she could not NOT KNOW, just from having gotten so many!

My mom was a nurse and she gave many but they were not discussed in any fashion. I think she thought they were necessary unpleasant things to get done. I have never heard since of any siblings using them or giving them. My sister will occasionally refer to them jokingly.

In my middle teens my mother coached me through giving myself an enema, but as far as my younger brother was concerned I had nothing whatsoever to do with giving him one. To that I'll add “thankfully!”

Haven't thought about this “moms taught older daughters” - I mentioned earlier that I don't remember my older sister getting an enema; and for that matter, any discussion between her and our mom about enemas; yet considering how my mom was always taking enemas, she must have instructed my sister. By the time I began giving myself enemas, my older sister was out of the house.

Teaching came from being shown how to make up the enema and being given one. –countryd

Absolutely. This certainly was true with my older daughter, who on one occasion that I recall in her late teens joining me in the bathroom for Mom's Enema 101. She stood beside me at the bathroom sink as I coached her on the amount of castile soap to mix into the water. (We used a measuring cup to pour the water into the bag.) I remember thinking about the relationship between moms and daughters, and how at that very moment I felt as close to my own as I'd ever felt, except maybe the day she was born.

@Vicki_V I recall in her late teens joining me in the bathroom for Mom's Enema 101. She stood beside me at the bathroom sink as I coached her on the amount of castile soap to mix into the water.

I envy that closeness! As close as I was with my mom; taking care of her in her later years, could never bring myself to discuss enemas with her. I knew of her life long interest in taking them; but we both pretended not to know.

Until recently, most education of kids was pretty much ‘learn by doing’. Moms taught their daughters how to cook, sew, etc. Dads taught their sons how to fix cars, mow lawns, and often their trades.

Why should a mom not teach her daughter how to give an enema? I doubt the training was extensive, because it's nor exactly rocket science, but I think it was pretty likely.

YMMV

Until recently, most education of kids was pretty much ‘learn by doing’.

Yup - that's how I did it. Only thing was, I thought the long curved douche tip was the adult enema nozzle (I did not know about douching) and proceeded to shove that up my butt 😁😁😁

No,

The first available, the first born, as I am male. Mom's only brother, with six older sisters, her playmate was her little brother.

She occasionally even called me by his name. She brought me under her nursing wing as soon as I was able to understand anything. As I learned to sweep the floor, her lessons on more personal concerns began. As she taught her little brother, she taught me comfort and rest with very small enemas. I remember when a little bit of volume was given with coaxing encouragement to be a big little boy. With the fullness inside me she would rub my tummy and tell me I was patient and strong. I hated more than anything to disappoint mama.

A few years later, brother and sister would explain their problems, in play and in need. While mother was working in the canneries, I would offer an enema and comfort them if they felt it necessary.

In play, one of us was always feeling it was necessary and the game would center around that one. Then the other often needed a turn as well, as the feeling was contagious. As they started high school we quit the games but would find occasion to put a hand on the other's butt with a little squeeze, a hug. No words necessary.

Her Mom gave her so many enemas that she could not NOT KNOW, just from having gotten so many!

The experience of receiving would be a fair teacher about how to take one. If you didn't see the bag being prepared that would need to be learned.

Until recently, most education of kids was pretty much ‘learn by doing’. Moms taught their daughters how to cook, sew, etc. Dads taught their sons how to fix cars, mow lawns, and often their trades.

@Sean that was the case, but not so much anymore. My family didn't use enemas, regularity was our best friend. But many other things were learned from my Mom including my temper. 😉

My household growing up (in the late 40's & fifties) was an enema emporium. I was the youngest child, with 3 older sisters, Grandma, Mom and Aunt Ruth, who actually lived next door. I do not remember a day when somebody wasn't getting an enema series. My immediate older sister and I got them at least twice weekly, from Gram, Mom or Aunt Ruth, and sometimes the two oldest sisters would give to us, so we were never very far from a tummy full of Ivory soap suds. I do not think that anyone got formal instruction in the art of giving an enema…we just learned from seeing them given. I know that when older sister Lisa first told me she wanted to give me one, she was already well versed in enema-ology. I returned the favor a few days later, and it was almost like enema giving was in our DNA.

Sometimes it's just better to do things like real-world examples of how physics relates to real life.

Things like getting the rain water to drain properly out of the yard. Why water towers are needed. How a tea kettle works.

Just practical physics!

They then figure it out without help!

I'm certain that my younger sister had gotten enough enemas by the time she was a middle teen that she had to have known how they were done. As for my older sister she never had anything to do with giving me an enema. And to this day I'm happy about that fact.

My mother did and I enjoyed my oldest sister inserting the douche nozzle, moving it around a little and then squeezing the Higgenson syringe bulb sending wonderful gushes of enema within my anus and stimulating my prostate as I held my buttocks tight to keep the nozzle inside. My sisters and I truly enjoyed her way of filling us up and would even get an eneorgasm from time to time.

Mom started letting our sister help give my brother an I enemas when she moved enemas from the bedroom to the bathroom, around age ten. It didn’t take long before my brother an I bitched about it. We didn’t think it was fair for our sister to give us enemas, when we couldn’t give her enemas. Once we bitched about it, she started letting us give our sister enemas. She was always in the bathroom whenever our sister did my brother an I or we did our sister. This continued until grandma taught us personal hygiene as preteens and enemas became our personal responsibility.

In as much as grandma and grandpa lived next door until passing in my later teens, there was little question that grandma taught my mom, and my older sister, about enemas.

My older sister and I were well educated about the nuances of enema administration, even though my sister never gave me one. We sure discussed them and simulated them in our role play with friends and cousins.

My grandpa had aquariums and used older, worn out enema equipment to assist in cleaning and upkeep. He taught me about fluid dynamics and I assisted him. An old bulb syringe was great to start a siphon.

My sister would make jokes about mom and grandma's overused enema things, including giving the fish tank an enema.

While I was often the butt of enema jokes and teasing, my sister who became a nurse, never gave me an enema. She did remind me, on her death bed, about the obsession mom and grandma had with enemas. All of the family was gathered and her kids learned why our mom and grandma had “that thing” hanging in the shower above the tub.

The smart ones taught them reality.

You may or may not have to give another person an enema.

Whether you do or not depends on so many factors they can't all be taught.

As for taking enemas yourself, you are on your own, but time constrained!

My sister was taught by her friend who gave me enemas a couple of times. My sister was 18 years old, she was about the same age. Install as needed. The sister held a heating pad, and the girl showed and explained to her. Maybe even my sister stuck me in, I was lying on my side and did not see. Most likely, my sister needed it for her studies. She studied to be a teacher. They had medicine, although only theory.

No in my case, I have no memories of my older sister in the later 1940's, early 1950's ever being involved with enemas; despite my mom being addicted to enemas.

Sounds a bit on the wild side. I can't see that happening as a regular thing but stuff goes on.

In the old days, in families with many children spread across decades, it could be the case that the oldest children were young adults when the youngest ones were small children. In this case, older daughters could be expected to e.g. change nappies or babysit. It makes sense to have them give enemas.

@Pecan_nutjob said,

In this case, older daughters could be expected to e.g. change nappies or babysit. It makes sense to have them give enemas.

Our mom was the oldest in her family and lived at home with her parents until we were around five years old. Grandma was a retired nurse and taught her two younger daughters (moms sisters) how to take care of me and my two siblings. When mom and dad bought a house nearby, her two younger sisters would still taking care of us when needed. This continued until we were young teenagers ourselves.