Confession is good for one’s soul. You are about to hear a personal confession.

My mother, who was a pioneer farmer’s wife, was treated as a second-class citizen. Oh, she had the right to vote and was secretary for our school district for most of my young, adult life and was in charge of family finances. She commanded respect from husband and children - yet in no way did she receive equal treatment. In my childhood on the farm, men had to do certain things, most women had to be able to do (and in many cases did) everything. My mother, who was the oldest in her family, worked outside the house about as much as inside. Consequently her life was tough and full of hard work. There were very few moments in her life when she wasn’t busy at something. (In certain areas of our world women still w…