In the Beginning...

A decade after beginning a family day care business, my fervor for the constant sound and activity of children was on the wane.  I still devoted myself to caring for the last remaining children in my day care, but thought about my possibilities for part-time employment. Being a one-car family, the possibilites were not exactly abundant. So when an ad in the newspaper mentioned a delivery route for my neighborhood, the wheels began turning. As I changed diapers, read stories, set up wooden railroads and played referee to toddler squabbles, the words of the ad tumbled around in my mind. "Good small route suitable for a beginning carrier. Earn $250.00 a month." The route could be completed early in the morning, would not require a car, and would provide a bit of spending money with the demise of my day care income. When the day care was finally closed, I would still be home to take of my two children. It seemed to be just the thing....so I answered the ad, and I became a newspaper carrier.