Emily Mayfield, part 11: Home Works

Suzanna reads one of Robert’s economics journals as she is nursing Jerry, and becomes interested in an article on the new entrepreneurship. This strikes all sorts of chords in Suzanna, as she wants to stay home with the baby, but knows that they are going to need increased income for George’s law school tuition. Suzanna, ever the practical person, reasons that she can run a catering business from her own home, which would allow her to work in her own kitchen, cart stuff in the family station wagon, and make additional income. But she will need equipment for cooking, transporting and serving. She researches the basic requirements for licensing.

Suzanna starts by cooking for small parties. She delivers the food and disappears. From her profits, she puts 50% into a bank account for George’s law school and 50% back into the business. First she buys bigger cooking vessels, then serving pieces such as chafing dishes and platters, then linens, and finally dishes. Suzanna’s enterprise grows into a full-scale catering business. Emily enters high school watching her mother begin this new business. When Emily gets home from school, she becomes primary caregiver for Jerry, so her mother can cook safely. Thus begins Emily’s deep bond with Jerry, and her feeling of having raised a son of her own.

The family economic system is structured so that Robert finances the household and Suzanna finances advanced education. It works. The school account grows, puts George through law school, continues to grow, puts Alex through medical school, continues to grow, puts Emily through veterinarian school, and finally puts Jerry through Julliard. Every child in the family knows to the depth of her/his heart that they owe their advanced education to their mother’s cooking. Every child also works full time during summers and has part time jobs during the school semesters to help pay their expenses as they go to school. By the time each graduates from her/his specialty, they are ready to be on their own in the world, and deeply grateful to and bonded with their parents as adult friends.

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