Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-31
BY JEANNE BARNETT
Contributing Writer

It's the home of Mrs. David
Coffin who defies the popu-
lar concept Of suburban
woman crumbling under the
pressure of a family, bored
with housework and scream
ing for release.
Mrs. Coffin, who m aim
tains that work is her re-
taxation, likes to stay home.
She likes to tend children.
She likes housework and
cooking.
What's more, she is par
laying her fondess for do
nestle chores into a tennis
court.
Six days a week the Mass
achusetts-born woman gets
up at 6 am. to bake bread,
for which she has a neigh
borhood waiting-list. and
take care of young children
whose mothers want out"
On the side, she cleans her
house and cares for her hus-
band and five-yes, five
children.
1t isn't that her husband
has forfeited his role as pro-
wider. He is an economist
employed by the Government
as a specialist In Far East
ern affairs.
Some people say I do all
this because I'm a nut" the
attractive 38-year-old bru-
nette said. II say it's because
I like challenge and I want
a tennis court"
The dream Of a tennis
court on her l2-acre prop
erty, which takes more than
bread-dough, triggered the
bread-baking and baby-care
activities.
MY husband and I re-
Joined the tennis enthusiasts
last summer after not having
played for many years." she
said. 1T occurred to me that
this was fine inexpensive rec
reation for a family of seven.
After the initial investment,
it won't cost a fortune"
Old Business
The bread business Is not
new to Mrs. Coffin. She first
went into the venture 10
years ago in Cambridge,
Mass, when her husband was
a graduate student at Har-
ward University.
THAT time / ended up with
a $1,000 a year enterprise in
my basement and sold to all
the fancy Boston stores. This
time I'm limiting myself to
IL loaves a day." she ex-
planned.
- Mrs. Coffin admits a gim-
mick helps her through the
daily routine. This routine
includes shipping her IA and
10 year old boys and their
IL and 6 year old sisters
off to school; occupying her
4-year-old daughter and a
couple Of paying pre-school
charges in nursery-school
fashion in the well-equipped
recreation room; completing
IL loaves Of bread from
dough kneading to oven
tending by noon, and cheer
fully greeting her husband
in a spotless house with a
hot dinner by 5 SPIN.
The gimmick?
II long ago decided to do
one thing each day beyond
necessary homework. 1t could
be writing a letter, reading,
painting a wall. This way
you develop a capacity for
work and can build up energy
to do more and MORE" she
said.
Exhausted and envious
women suspect the gimmick
Is Mr.. Coffin. who each
morning brings his wife
breakfast in bed.
Mrs. Coffin also admits
he is a morning person"
who is usually in bed by
9p.m.
Everyone Hustles
Before breakfast everyone
in the house hustles. TIL e
beds are made, bread started.
the place Strengthened" she
said. But don't misunder-
stand. / believe there should
be a time TO slow down. We
do sit and read and talk In
the early evening"
Also on her list OF neces-
sary aids are her automatic
washer. dryer and ironer:
good household organization
(one-half Of the Coffin house
Is set up for children. one
half for adults. and rules.
"Our children enter down.
stairs In their half OF the
house. This rule. and others,
are broken. Of course. / don't
expect children 10 be ma
chimes. But we find II we
stick 10 the rules most OF
the time. life is easier for
everyone. she said.
To Mrs. Coffin her full
household Is not something