I ask, am I the only one that feels this way? Just because I was born first, put me in the difficult position of being the "Junior Mom!" Why one of my first memories was that of being ordered to fetch my sisters baby bottle for her, and at my age of four I knew I was not going to like this part very much. I then took on the guilts, as I was constantly reminded that she was my little sister and she depended on me! Well, who was I to go to? This is when I realized that I had a job that was a none paying, almost thankless, dismissive, and lifelong. But, I have to say in this matter back then in the fifties, there was this rule that kids were to be seen and not heard. And putting it bluntly, you just didn't back talk your parents or other "older" people at all.

So, I was growing up too and trying to find me! All kids go through this it is a critcal part of becoming a young adult. Having a kid sister's and now there was another one born, made it difficult for me in school and to have any kind of a dating life later. So, I decided to be a professional junior mom! And I was a good one too.

I would clean the house, as mother had to work to make ends meet in our home, and daddy worked an entirely different shift, days, so I had quite a time learning what some call time management today. I still had school and church that I was so devout to, and was actually considering and studying the acts of poverty, chastity and obedience. With all of these I learned that doing what had to be done around our home and praying while I was working, made it that much easier for me. Depending on prayers have always been a great source of strength for me.

Since daddy worked days, he had the time to enjoy playing softball in the summer evenings. It was fun! We went to the park at eleventh and Hess Avenue about twice a week during the summer months. This was like kid heaven for us. There was a swimming pool, the icecream van and of course, old Pete the Popcorn man. He had this upright, portable popcorn machine and made cones out of tissue paper that would hold the popcorn and sold it for twenty-five cents. He was rather old and asked us kids if we would pull his machine, he would fill our hands with as much popcorn as they could hold. We grabbed that rope and pulled that machine all over that ballpark and we loved it, and so did old Pete! The one problem with this park was there was no restroom. You either changed your swimwear in your dad's car or left them on to air dry.The

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Testimonies: Being a junior mom?
We want to hear your view. Write now!