Chasing the Elusive Dream
Viewing comments for Chapter 15 "The Help"A southern couple's journey in the 60's,70's & 80'
32 total reviews
Comment from Frank Malley
This is an intelligent memoir by an educated mother with children who encounters the jigsaw job of hiring a nanny when she decides to resume working. Ms. Shelby is a good writer and I am reluctant to make suggestions, but I think that pacing is a key feature in attractive writing. Many of the examples and descriptions in this story could be made with fewer words, and thus move the story along more quickly. I also think some greater intensity of feeling could be evinced in the encounters the narrator describes.
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2022
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This is an intelligent memoir by an educated mother with children who encounters the jigsaw job of hiring a nanny when she decides to resume working. Ms. Shelby is a good writer and I am reluctant to make suggestions, but I think that pacing is a key feature in attractive writing. Many of the examples and descriptions in this story could be made with fewer words, and thus move the story along more quickly. I also think some greater intensity of feeling could be evinced in the encounters the narrator describes.
Comment Written 28-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 02-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much for the review of my story and for the suggestions you make. I appreciate them.
Beth
Comment from The Journaler
And interesting chapter in your life. Sounds like the days of pressure cookers! I am glad you found work and were able to finally get your children settled. I can imagine when they started school, it may have been easier, but had its own set of challenges. Every period of our lives seem that way.
Well written, and moves along in a good way. You were teaching your children many lessons in this episode.
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2022
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And interesting chapter in your life. Sounds like the days of pressure cookers! I am glad you found work and were able to finally get your children settled. I can imagine when they started school, it may have been easier, but had its own set of challenges. Every period of our lives seem that way.
Well written, and moves along in a good way. You were teaching your children many lessons in this episode.
Comment Written 28-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 01-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much for an great review. I really appreciate your comments.
Beth
Comment from EMB
Wow. That's most impressive, and I have no problem believing that you got the job after simply studying proofreading marks for a short period of time. I'm sure you studied diligently, and diligence always pays off.
I liked this. :)
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Wow. That's most impressive, and I have no problem believing that you got the job after simply studying proofreading marks for a short period of time. I'm sure you studied diligently, and diligence always pays off.
I liked this. :)
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you Edward. I really appreciate the review and comments. Unfortunately, one would probably find it hard to believe I used to be good with proofreading, because I can't seem to catch all the errors in my own work. When I read my work, I see what I meant to say and not what i actually said. LOL
Beth
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Very interesting. YOu were both lucky to keep your jobs while others were laid off. Mamie surprised me. You would think anything coming from a three-year-old child could be excused and apologies would be enough! Yikes! Talk about touchy!
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Very interesting. YOu were both lucky to keep your jobs while others were laid off. Mamie surprised me. You would think anything coming from a three-year-old child could be excused and apologies would be enough! Yikes! Talk about touchy!
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you Phyllis, I appreciate the review and comments. Yes, Mamie was very sensitive. Someone said maybe my three had become too much for her and she was looking for out. My son was a lot to handle, so that is possible.
Beth
Comment from Samuel Dickens
Maybe because these issues still weigh on my mind, I especially enjoyed reading this. It's just so sad about Mamie leaving, but much sadder that such a terrible and unfair climate ever existed. (Much of it is still there, I'm quite sure) After boot camp and technical schools, my first duty station was Meridian, Mississippi, and I arrived there in mid '68. My Arkansas home was only 450 miles away, but in many ways, it may have been a million for the extreme differences. I could tell a few stories about that, but not now.
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Maybe because these issues still weigh on my mind, I especially enjoyed reading this. It's just so sad about Mamie leaving, but much sadder that such a terrible and unfair climate ever existed. (Much of it is still there, I'm quite sure) After boot camp and technical schools, my first duty station was Meridian, Mississippi, and I arrived there in mid '68. My Arkansas home was only 450 miles away, but in many ways, it may have been a million for the extreme differences. I could tell a few stories about that, but not now.
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you Samuel for the six star review. I'm so glad you are able to relate after reading this. I grew up near Meridian. There was so much racial prejudice during those days. I think there is still a lot in Mississippi but not nearly as much as before. I have friends in Arkansas.
Comment from Cry the Vile Rebel
This was a very sooth and delightful read. You captured some of that era, and also your honest reactions and feelings. You have provided, I think, a very balanced view of that setting... deep South, sixties and hard times. Thank you.
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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This was a very sooth and delightful read. You captured some of that era, and also your honest reactions and feelings. You have provided, I think, a very balanced view of that setting... deep South, sixties and hard times. Thank you.
Comment Written 16-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and nice comments.
I really appreciate you reading and sharing your thoughts.
Beth
Comment from AprilShower
You said your son was hyperactive. He tired you out. This probably caused a problem with the housekeeper/babysitters. He may have been too much for them to handle. This is well written. The only thing I notice was a skipped 'I' below.
What if (I) send her to you?"
April
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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You said your son was hyperactive. He tired you out. This probably caused a problem with the housekeeper/babysitters. He may have been too much for them to handle. This is well written. The only thing I notice was a skipped 'I' below.
What if (I) send her to you?"
April
Comment Written 16-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Thank you April, I appreciate the review and comments. You may very well be right. My maid might have had all she could take of the lively youngsters and thought it was time to move on.
Beth
Comment from Donald O. Cassidy
You continue your biography in a candid and realistic manner, Beth. You serve another purpose in that this is historical. I lived through those sixties and know about segregation of the races, then the civil rights struggle. You put a face on this..
I can identify with a tyrant employer. This was during my early college years, with a slave-driver foreman. taking advantage of student employees.
I think I understand Evan's struggle with his boss.
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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You continue your biography in a candid and realistic manner, Beth. You serve another purpose in that this is historical. I lived through those sixties and know about segregation of the races, then the civil rights struggle. You put a face on this..
I can identify with a tyrant employer. This was during my early college years, with a slave-driver foreman. taking advantage of student employees.
I think I understand Evan's struggle with his boss.
Comment Written 16-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and the nice comments. As always I appreciate you reading and sharing your thought.
Beth
Comment from teacherdub
Very detailed description of problems life can bring when one least expects it to. Bringing any sort of help into the family situation can be wonderful, troublesome, or down right explosive. Sounds as if this one was a combination of those. Thanks for sharing this capsule of life as it once was for you. (No errors found). td
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Very detailed description of problems life can bring when one least expects it to. Bringing any sort of help into the family situation can be wonderful, troublesome, or down right explosive. Sounds as if this one was a combination of those. Thanks for sharing this capsule of life as it once was for you. (No errors found). td
Comment Written 16-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting on this. Yes, you never know how these things might turn out. Life can throw some unexpected curves at times.
Beth
Comment from Saikripa
The need for a dependable maid is universal for working mothers. But we're so lacking in trust that we can't even imagine to have one, even if it is affordable. But I'd like to share that if you give it a chance and choose one carefully, keep her with dignity and treat well, there's nothing like it. Like the way, the author has done. But there are no perfect foolproof solutions to any problem.
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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The need for a dependable maid is universal for working mothers. But we're so lacking in trust that we can't even imagine to have one, even if it is affordable. But I'd like to share that if you give it a chance and choose one carefully, keep her with dignity and treat well, there's nothing like it. Like the way, the author has done. But there are no perfect foolproof solutions to any problem.
Comment Written 15-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 16-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and comments. It was a good experience in many ways but it had its drawbacks too. The last maid we had didn't have transportation and we had to go into a bad section of town where once we had a bullet hit the car. You're right there are no foolproof solutions.
Beth
