A Letter to Wives from Mrs. Robinson

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But about the work - that's what's worrying you, I know. Yes, I do work hard, I suppose - at least, other women seem to be impressed. But I don't work any harder than I did when I was employed in an office and at the same time kept house as so many women do. One secret I have found is not trying to keep a spotless house - I have decided it's a waste of time. I guess our other secret is that what seems dull work to many people frequently is fun to us.

Now I don't claim we enjoy doing everything - for instance, picking chickens, washing too many greens at one time for canning, or cleaning out manure. But even these disagreeable jobs are not too bad when done together, and what satisfaction I get when they're done! Being a woman you can imagine my blessed feeling at knowing I have, to name just one item, 25 broilers in my freezer-ready to be cooked for my family or friends whenever I want them. We women probably place security for our families above everything else - so you wouldn't mind being in my shoes, would you, if you could say - "I could feed my family well without buying another thing for six months!"

I guess you may think by now that I am a very unsociable person but I like to play as well as anyone else. I get very fed up with it all occasionally. When that happens, I try to park our child and the chores with a neighbor and off I go to the city - the Robinson's don't begrudge Mom her day off, especially when it makes her so glad to get back.

There are certain basic facts about the work though - summer is obviously the busiest season while winter gives you loads of time for parties, dinners or whatnot. Except in the middle of summer we have weekend guests who like to play at farming and in the winter we have supper parties. Incidentally, I find it doesn't cost much to entertain guests since we started our "Have-More" Homestead, because we always have surplus food on hand. Nature has worked out a swell scheme - by the very fact of winter she forces you to rest. Then when spring come, you're refreshed and eager to start all over again.

And I think you'll make some new friends you'll like - without exception, the people we have met in connection with our animals have been tops. I don't know whether owning animals makes people nice or whether only swell people care for animals, but whichever it is, both Ed and I have thoroughly enjoyed the new friends we have made.

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