harried mother in the 80's

I've decided to post one of my Journal entries. I've been doing some major cleaning (finally threw out all the empty DVD cases for my movies, since I've put all my movies in a DVD wallet), but I haven't been taking pictures.
You young mothers might get a kick out of this - I really wanted to be a good mother and wife, and lose weight, etc......well, you'll see.......

June 9, 1982
This has been my 2nd day of Rick’s College Education Week - tomorrow's the last day. What a spiritual boost!!! I’ve been so muddled lately - not setting goals - not keeping any commitments I’d made in the past. The lectures I’ve heard these last 2 days have been such an inspiration to me. I want to apply everything I’ve learned all at once. But I realize thats unrealistic. Even tonight - I planned to come home & really communicate with my family - I did fine with the girls, but I can’t understand what happened between Tony & me. We’ve been sweet as pie, but NOT communicating! 1) I walk in the house - he’s stacking dishes so he can wash them - he does some, then walks away. So I take over to finish up. 2) He mentions he should go thru his business papers on the cupboard, then drifts off to read the newspaper. 3) He heads to the basement to watch TV saying, and I quote: "Come watch TV & we’ll fold the wash" I say, "I can’t, I need to finish dishes - please take your business papers downstairs." He says, "I will, on a commercial." 4) I go downstairs & he’s watching TV. I start folding laundry, he clears his chair & part of the floor of laundry, then sits back & watches TV. I finally got disgusted doing it alone & came upstairs, laundry not done. His business papers not removed from counter - - OK - teacher - so what did I do wrong?!?!
June 13, 1982
Those classes really helped me to look at myself & make goals to become a better person - just in the incident of the above "misunderstanding". I could have sulked all night or I could have screamed at him & berated him. Instead I wrote it in my journal, then I prayed a lot. When he came upstairs I was calm - asked him what went wrong tonight - pointing out the above incidences. He said, "I’m sorry - I guess I feel flumfy tonight." I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT!! There was nothing to forgive & our relationship was fine. The 3rd day of lectures was just as excellent as the 1st two.
Friday and Saturday I decided to take girls up to West Piney to the Rigby 4th Ward campout. The housework was really backed up because I’d been gone all week, so I made a maze map of how to get to West Piney & put it on the fridge. With a magnet, we followed the road to West Piney, overcoming each obstacle on the way - namely housework. The girls did real well helping get all the work done. We invited Cortney Hymas & Michelle Simon along. We got up there, set up the tent & bedding, then the girls played on the slide A LOT. Tony joined us up there later, but had to come back because its National Guard weekend. He took Anna & Elizabeth on a hike - what a special time. I was able to stay on my diet the whole time, but blew it the rest of Saturday. We had a real good chicken dinner Friday nite (I had my Cambridge drink) & then a program of skits and a melodrama by the young adults. It was 11:30 by the time we went to bed. Our special guest speaker was Pres. Garth Hall. He told of a boy named Bob who saved his brothers’ and sisters from a fire, but died in doing so. Memorial day was a special day for that family as they talked about Bob & honored him. Thats how it should be for Jesus, our eldest brother, who died for us. Each Sunday is a memorial day in which we remember him & talk of him. When we got to our tent, we played "old time movie shows" with the flash light, but it was TOO COLD to do much else, so went to bed. Had a good breakfast (me, Cambridge drink) the next day & the girls played all morning while I broke camp. Michelle was a big help to me. She watched Anna, a lot too.

Then back home to plant tomatoes & get cleaned up. The girls built tent houses on the clothes line until the wind blew them down. I’d planned on Tony & I having a date & very unselfishly gave it up when the Sheriff’s reserve asked him to help on a Beer Kegger Party bust. My commitment to be more positive is a struggle, but its helped the feelings of the whole house tremendously.
Todays Sunday - back on my diet. I have 10 more pounds to lose. Hope to do it by August. Today I’m going over all my lecture notes & set goals for myself. Tony’s at Guard today.

TONY AND THE GIRLS OUTSIDE "WRASSLING" & PLAYING. DADDY PLAYS A QUIZ GAME:
Daddy: Whats the longest river? Patti: The Pacific Ocean! Jenny: The Nile River
Daddy: What ocean is next to California? Patti: The Pacific Ocean
Daddy: What country does the Nile River end in? Patti: K-Mart. Jenny: Sudan (after a few hints) Egypt.
Daddy: Whats the capital city of the State of Idaho? Patti: "R". Jenny: Boise

Tony came home from National Guard not too soon. Church was a hassle because Anna acted up & Elizabeth was weepy. After dinner he ran a soothing oil-bubble bath for me & I soaked & read a book & calmed down while he played with the girls. He’s been put on a diet by the National Guard, to lose 36 lbs. in a year. So I need to work out menus for him. We made some commitments, will work them all out on
Monday. Becky came over to work on a Spanish song - The Menan Stake has formed a Spanish speaking Branch & Becky has been called as a Primary 1st Councelor. She said they need more help - the wish of my hearts is to become involved in this - what a challenge & spiritual mission!! Well, to bed - I have a big day tomorrow.