Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Of High School and Nannies

When I graduated from eighth grade at Wapiti, I had to attend school in Cody.  Going from a close-knit country school with less than a dozen students in all grades, to a BIG high school with 85 freshman students was a traumatic experience.  No one can be more cruel than teenagers, and I and  the other country girls, were the brunt of their cruel teasing and harassment.  Being a straight “A” student didn’t make me very well liked either. But I loved school and learning about the world, and soon learned to shut out the meanness.
Because of the distance and poor winter road conditions, I worked as a nanny for room and board. When I was a freshman, I worked for a couple with two children out on the east side of town.  Since both parents worked, I helped the boy and girl with their homework, made supper for the family, cleaned the house, and then spent the evening doing homework. I shared a bed with the little girl.  In the mornings I made sure the kids were ready to catch the school bus.  And for this I was paid $2. per week plus my room and board. This was the first money that I had ever made, and I felt rich.

11 comments:

  1. WOW what a story! $2.00 per week! I can't image doing all that work for $2.00. You are one hard worker.

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  2. I can't imagine how hard that would have been.
    Though when I was 14 all I wanted to do was get out of the house...LOL being the oldest I never had a moments peace!
    I think when I started babysitting I made $2.00 and hour...
    Have a great day!

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  3. Wow! You did work hard for that money, didn't you?

    I remember my first job and how important I felt...and rich as you said.

    It makes me sad to think of all the kids that are treated badly in school. This never stops I guess.

    Have a great day!
    Tammy

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  4. I can imagine how rough it was moving to a bigger school! I started middle school in a new community where our just-built large home in a nice subdivision (my Dad built our house) had me labeled as one of the "rich snobby kids - actually those calling me that were snobs, but at 11 I didn't know that. Then when in the first week I was bumped up from 6th grade math to 7th grade accelerated math, it made for an awful experience in my new school. My mistake was that I didn't brush them off like you d8id in high school. I tried to dumb myself down to fit in. It never happened and I finally gave up in my second year of high school. I really failed at failing.

    How awesome and enterprising to be a nanny! I love the cartoon! (Our spoiledbrat.net is called Behind Orange Eyes!)(

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  5. I can't imagine going to a school of 12 or moving out of your home to live and take care of others while going to a new school with bullies. It must have made you ad strong woman because you are. sandie

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  6. You are right...teenagers, especially girls, can be so very mean. My youngest daughter has experienced some of that teenage drama herself. You have to constantly remind your children that they are special and worthy...though others may not feel the same way. I'm sure that what you went through during those years has made you who you are today.

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  7. Wow! And that's what's wrong with kids today. They wouldn't know what to do if they had to survive in those times. I know it made you the great person you are today.

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  8. Wow! I could never imagine doing something like that at such a young age! Good for you!!

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  9. I had an almost identical experience with the school situtation. It was awful. AND I babysat the kids down the road from us all summer while both parents worked for $10. a week. I felt rich, too. xo Diana

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  10. don't you just miss the early days? I do!

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  11. Two dollars a week?! Wow. but then again you also got room and board too. Sounds like it was a nice job too. I still can't get over the $2 though...

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