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We all like to talk about the "good old days," but the ever-increasing advent of labor-saving, or just plain convenient, devices makes the good old days pale in comparison.
I think, for example, of my dishwasher, automatic washing machine, television and computer. But one great idea that was not electric or even a machine comes to mind. Being neither electric nor machine, it was, in fact, an organization.
The one I remember was strictly local to Tulare, and not available to just anyone, but, oh, it made my life sweet for a few years.
To be honest, back in the 60s and 70s, Fred and I found more places to put our money than we had money to put. One economy we brought into play was that we never, well almost never, hired baby sitters.
We were well aware that it's good therapy for parents of small children to set aside an evening for just time alone once in awhile.
Although you loved your children, you still needed some time away from them. However, there was just so much money to go around, and there were more pressing needs than a night out away from the kids.
Then, one day, oh blessed day, one of my friends told me about a wonderful organization. She not only told me about it, but invited me to become a member.
I always called it "The Baby Sitters' Coop."
Some of the members of this organization were women I already knew, but there were other interesting people, as well, and if you're reading this, you know who you are.
The thread that held this group together was that we were all mothers of young children. We believed that family values were important and that our children not only needed to be exposed to all kinds of good things, but should learn to get along with others. In addition, we couldn't afford baby sitters as often as we needed them.
The purpose of this group was to provide a baby sitter for whoever was in need. Baby-sitting was paid for, not by money, but by points. There was a system of points, either merits or demerits. If your child was baby-sat, you earned demerits, at four points per hour.
If you were the baby sitter, you earned merits, or credits at four points per hour.
We were a loosely knit group of friendly women whose most important officer was a bookkeeper. The current bookkeeper not only kept track of the points; she also found, within the group, willing baby-sitters to fill requests.
It was an exacting job, but one had to keep it for only one month before it passed on to someone else.
Because of this group, we budget-conscious mothers of young children could honor jury duty summons or many other occasions best served without children in tow.
It was a godsend, where we made new friends as did our children. Friends I made then remain friends today.
Nola Rae Tucker Lewis of Tulare is a member of the Down Memory Lane writers group, which meets at 10 a.m. Thursdays at the Tulare Senior Center, 201 North F St. Stories from the group appear Tuesdays in the Advance-Register.
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