My mom had to work. She always wanted to be home with us kids growing up, but wasn't able too. I remember her ride would already have picked her up for work before we were up in the mornings. My dad would get us up and ready for school, and then watch us walk to the corner to wait for the school bus....then he would head for work himself. After school, we would get off the bus at my grandparents where we would wait till my parents came to get us after they got off work. When we were a little older, we took care of ourselves getting about. On my 21st birthday I came home from my job and my mom was home early--just finishing up a birhday cake she had made for me. I asked her what she was doing home and she said that it was my 21st birthday and she wanted to be home to make me a cake. I hold that memory close to my heart.