woman’s previous to the pregnancy, diagnosed diabetic condition. A short time later, I viewed the chart again, and noticed that large amounts of information regarding this woman’s death were removed. I left the job shortly thereafter.
During the middle of the 1980’s, a new idea for living was touted and recommended to women in the United States known as the “supermom” philosophy. This idea was largely and heavily promoted through the mass media vehicles of magazines and television. The “supermom” worked full time (40 hours a week) with extra time needed for commuting. The “supermom” was a loving wife and mother of usually at least two minor children, who was actively engaged in the lives of family members. “Quality time” for family was promoted as being far more desirable than “quantity time”. This meant that about a half hour to one hour per day was spent on concentrated, intense time with family which was deemed more valuable than many hours spent with family in a relaxed atmosphere. The “supermom” was very well organized and managed the family’s life extraordinarily well. Setting appointments, scheduling, and early planning were key components to the success of this life style. In addition to scheduling “quality time”, “supermoms” also accomplished household work daily after their full time job and commute. The life philosophy of the “supermom”, made many traditional moms who stayed home with their families, sense feelings of inadequacy and incompetence. As I was always busy on a daily basis with child care, house, yard, and errand responsibilities I wondered how the “supermom” could physically and mentally accomplish so much in one day. A few years later and by the end of the 1980’s, stories began surfacing about young working moms who were becoming ill do to exhaustion and hectic, stressful days of work and family responsibilities. I realized then that the “supermom” philosophy was hogwash and evil in intent. Later the philosophy of the “stay at home dad” was promoted which I believe at this time, has fizzled. Probably for some couples, resentments between husband and wife surfaced perhaps due to a reversal of the traditional roles of men and women. Today, many parents of young and minor children work full time, relying mostly on paid help with the rearing of their family. It would be best for all concerned if the traditional family roles were reestablished. To possibly assist with this return process read the Commentary on Family shown at the end of this book.
Beginning in the middle 1980’s through to the time when I last departed my home in 2005 one frequently experienced an anxiety related to the logistical thinking of mothers with children in shopping center parking lots. On frequent occasions one viewed while driving in the parking lot, young children left unattended by mothers who were busy loading packages and strollers into the trunks of their vehicles. These children at times would step or run onto the parking lot driveway causing considerable angst to those driving past the parked cars. It is also likely that children have become injured or have died due to the adults’ inattentiveness regarding this matter. Therefore one suggests that upon arrival at a shopping center parking location the adult should remove the stroller or carriage from the trunk of the vehicle prior to removing the child(ren) from the vehicle. After shopping, secure the child(ren) in the vehicle prior to placing items in the trunk of the vehicle.
Retrospective: At that time, it was amazing how a determined person could stretch a dollar to make ends meet. For some examples, a ham or turkey can last all week and provide a new and different meal