My mother insisted upon knowing where we kids were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who out friends were, and what we were doing. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, that we be gone one hour or less; not one hour and one minute. I am really ashamed to admit it but she actually struck us; not once, but each time we did as we pleased. Can you imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed? Now you can begin to see how mean she really was.

The worst is yet to come! We had to be in bed by nine each night and up early the next morning. We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends. So, while they slept, my mother acutally had the nerve to break the child labor law. She had us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid awake nights thinking up mean things to do to us. She always insisted upon our telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, even if it killed us - and it nearly did!

By the time we were teenagers, she was much wiser, and our life became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car in front of the house for us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates and friends come to the door to get us. I forgot to mention, while my friends were dating at the "MATURE" age of 12 and 13 my old fashioned mother refused to let us date until the age of 15 and 18. Fifteen, that is if you dated only to school functions, and that was twice a year.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. None of us has ever been arrested, or beaten their mate! Each of my brothers served his time in the service of his country. And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You are right, our MEAN MOTHER! Look at all these things we missed - we never got to march in a protest parade; nor even take part in a riot, burn draft cards, and a million and one things that our friends did. She forced us to grow into God fearing, educated honest adults.

Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me "MEAN" because, you see, I thank God he gave me . . .