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Chapter 9        Momma Goes to Work

Momma had no choice, with her herd of children to take care of... but to find a job.  There was something called a Mall, across the Big Lake, that was opening up, and had jobs available.  Momma got a job at one of those Big Department Stores working, as a clerk in the offices.  We did not have a car, so, Momma had to take the Greyhound Bus everyday, to and from work, which was at least an hour each way. 

About 5:30 pm, my Brothers and I would wait at the end of our driveway for Momma.  We must have been like little vultures, waiting to grab onto Momma, as soon as she came home...  Momma had to walk, from the Highway to our house, which often was muddy, wet, and slippery from the rain.... (no paved roads in the country, back then...) She would put on her old shoes, after she got off the bus, to just walk home, for she did not want to ruin her only pair of work shoes in that muddy mess.

When we saw Momma coming, we would race to greet her, and be oh, so happy... Momma was home.   I am sure she was tired, but she still had to come home, and do all the Momma duties... cook, wash clothes, take care of her babies, clean.  When I had babies, I understood, why Momma would "shussh" me away, when she was reading the newspaper.   She just needed a little bit of time to herself, which was hard to find, with 5 kids around.

Hmm? We, Working Moms, do understand how hard it must have been, and still is today...to raise babies and have to work too.  In the 50's, Working Moms was not all that common...and not having a Daddy around, even rarer.