We have been asked to talk about when we were children and the ‘dream jobs’ hoped to get when we grew up.
When I was very, very young, all I wanted to be was a wife and mother. Santa brought a new doll each to my sister and to me every Christmas. My sister is seven years older than I am, so not long after I could really play with her, the dolls stopped coming to her. But while they did, in order to get her to play with me, I’d go along with her stipulations. She was very much into movies, TV and celebrities at an early age, and I remember her marrying me off at a very young age to Little Joe Cartwright, (while she took Adam), Dr. Kildare,(she claimed Ben Casey)…you get the idea. We were Lucy and Ethel-ish in her madcap ideas for our adventures!
[Some of our younger readers and colleagues may not get my TV show references.Sorry. Suffice it to say, my sister took the hunks for herself.]
My sister always liked to write. I did, too, but she was the one who really had her heart set on it and I was not about to compete; (there is a lot of background here which I will spare you.) I wrote in secret, and only in my wildest dreams thought of ever being published.
I loved learning as soon as I started school and I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t keep that aspiration for long, because I quickly decided, instead, to be a nurse. The cousin with whom I spent most of my Summers and I decided that we would both become nurses and go live in Italy, at least for a few years. My mother was a bit upset that I didn’t choose to be a doctor, but when I was eight,(1962), it didn’t seem as glamorous as the, (then), white uniforms, little caps and the loving hands-on work that was nursing. Plus, nurses seemed freer to me than the doctors.
Although I have done my share of learning first aid and CPR, of patching cuts, dealing with nosebleeds and a few more serious occurrences within the family, I never became a nurse, but the cousin became a doctor! (However, neither of us has gotten to Italy.)
I did become a wife, (to another Joe), and a mother to two.
I taught in group classes and homeschooled my kids for a number of years.
I write,openly, and have been published.
In my life I seem to have covered the early bases, and even a few more that I had not thought of when I was young. Since I was in the kitchen with my mother from a very early age learning to make wonderful and tasty foods for people to enjoy, I never thought of making money at it, and yet, I did later on in life.
This has certainly been a topic which made me do a great deal of reflecting on my life! Has it made you take stock of yours? I bet if you look back, you have accomplished more than you realized.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
seven years older — while still children — is almost like an entirely different generation!
I’m glad I was 3 yrs from my older brother and 3 yr from my younger sister. Though my sister and brother were six years apart, now that I think about it.
Yeah, the younger child has to take leftovers, hand-me-downs, and the second best-looking TV stars.
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We have a brother between us, who is 4 1/2 years older than I am.In the 50s-60s, the games/shows/toys were pretty segregated for boys and girls. My sons are less than 17 years apart and it sometimes had its drawbacks, but more often than not,it worked out well.They are now best friends. Even now that they live states apart, the speak on the phone just about every day.
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My sister is nine years older and I don’t recall ever playing dolls with her.
It’s great how such a simple question can cause so much reflection.
There are times when being a mom makes me wish I had some nursing knowledge but I have picked up some information over the years.
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I don’t think we can help but pick up some nursing information in life, especially when you are a mom, Angie! Kids keep us hoping!
This was a definitely more reflective topic than at first glance.
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I’m a firm believer that things turn out the way they do for a reason. Your nurse training undoubtedly came in handy as you raised your kids, and I’m sure they play a part in your writing, especially when you write about food. Enjoyed reading about your journey.
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Family is important.I think that idea is being lost.Many of society’s problems could be alleviated if people could, and would, care for their families. For a while, many workplaces and the military accommodated families. Between the economic struggle, there is a loss of selflessness when it comes to the needs of others. Many take what little time they have not working doing things just for themselves,Unfortunately, society today encourages that idea.
I had no real nurses training, Patty…just things that came up. My brother was seriously ill after a surgery and my mother did so much hands-on care of his dressings, etc, that I saw, (and learned more later), about courage. I found that a person can face anything if they want to; if they step out of themselves and know that there is something more important than their comfort.
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I am the youngest of six, but my oldest brother is 22 years older than my and my closest brother (almost typed bother there, which would probably be fitting) is 11 years older. My siblings children are closer in age to me and I played with them more as a child. I also ended up playing with more vintage toys from my sisters’ hand-me-downs. I played with Barbie and Midge. I think the age difference shows up in my stories every now and then because I forget that aunts and uncles aren’t always 40 years older than their nieces and nephews.
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We have that in my family, Joselyn.My grandmother was a widow about 31 with three sons,(twin girls had died), when she married my grandfather, who was 45 and never been married. They had 7 children,including my mother, who was born when my grandmother was 43…then she had another set of girl twins at 47! My oldest cousins have kids older than I am.
My husband is one of 15, and his youngest sister is just older than oldest brother’s first child…and the youngest of my son’s cousins are younger than their children.
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