Evening star., 1946-07-01
Readers Clearing House

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for this big, important job.
Let me explain that I have three
children. All active, boys, and I
think long and consider carefully
any applicant for the job of looking
after them.
So I have given much thought to
what COULD be done to help the
situation
In the first place I don't feel that
woman qualified to care for chill
dren PROPERLY should be consid-
cred servant-or asked to do any
housecleaning along with looking
after the children
In the second place I don't feel
any woman should be asked to care
for three or four youngsters for the
same price as for one, for the work
is more difficult, as any one who has
two or more can tell you.
Then I think that this person
should be made to feel that she is
doing you a real service and that
since you are trusting her with your
most precious possessions you think
well of her and respect her and will
insist that your children do also.
T cannot believe that it is right
to rush off the minute your assistant
appears without making clear to
her several points about where to
reach the doctor. what to use for
cuts and burns, and where you can
be reached, if necessary.
All this would be simplified by
having a set of questions, typewrit-
ten. to be given when the assistant
arrives, to relieve the necessity of
embarrassing questions on the part
of either AS follows:
Name Of assistant-Mrs. Mary Jones.
Teerasom9ott Teiephone@Mu. no 1900. street
Examined by-Dr.
Name Ne, Of + parents Of children-Mr. and
Addressm@6la AAddidre,sss1@ nth street.
business phone-MU. xxx.
Children's doctors phone-zY XxxX
Where to call in emergency-zY 0000.
Nun Number l.oSires Of shildre' names and ages.
Isq S5S5. aSS d. you wish me to do
Signature of parent
Times of arrival and times Of de-
W Children. s. g.. Thrsss ehiIaTsn. s3.SS
Evsnine1sfi children one shild: l:5S
s and Th5ss p1ode ShdEsn s. 20
tion to home or bed SO that assistant
may. stay If she wishes.
Perhaps a bureau could be eStab-
lished where information could be
filed on any woman who might be
willing to accept such a position for
certain specified fee. Before she
is called for job she must (a)
pass a physical examination, (b) be
available twice week, (d) be will
ing to carry the form abd to her
employer with the request that it
be mailed back to the bu reau, Id
be willing to report any u unpleasant
circumstances to the bureau SO that
it need not send another assistant
if the experience was too disagree
able.
And finally, I believe there must
be many kindly women in Wash
ington whose children are now
grown or nearly so-who might like
to do this sort of work-provided
it could be made less unpopular
in name and requirements.
I don't believe that $3.50 for a
morning hours or $1.50 for an
afternoon a hours is too much
to ask for such responsibility. 1t
goes without saying that if they
are required to stay with children
through lunch or dinner that their
meal shall be provided also.
I would be very much interested
in hearing what you think of
m. AS" (mothers' assistants)
through the RICH, and will work
up the idea if I hear any construc-
tive criticism.
I might add that I have consulted
two doctors on this idea and they
thought it especially fine for those
mothers with new babies, but with
other small children as well-be-
cause they do need rest so badly
sometimes.
NY own mother supervises chill
dren In another city while their
parents are away from the city.
1t is very remunerative as well as
time consuming, and, as we are all
grown, she says she likes to have
something to do!