Saturday morning. Marilyn and her mother-in-law Ellen are on the patio with Max.
Ellen:	[She puts Max's teddy bear in his playpen.] There's your teddy bear, Max.
Ellen:	He just loves that teddy bear that Grandpa Philip bought for him.
Marilyn:	I took him to Philip's office yesterday for a check-up. You should have seen the look on his face when Molly gave him the injection.
Ellen:	Oh, did he cry?
Marilyn:	No. My dear little boy just looked up at me as if to say, "Mama, what are they doing to me? Help!"
Ellen:	How did you feel? Tell the truth. Didn't you feel terrible?
Marilyn:	I sure did. I held him closely. I kissed the top of his dear little head. He looked up at me. He tried to smile. Being with him helped.
Ellen:	Helped him? Or helped you?
Marilyn:	Being a mother is not easy, if that's what you mean.
Ellen:	Speaking of being a mother, I've been meaning to ask you what you were thinking about regarding going back to work. I know Rita Mae called. I can imagine what is going through your head.
Marilyn:	I'm sure you can, Ellen.
Ellen:	There are so many things to consider. One thing that makes it easier for you is that you have us. Max will always have a family member to watch over him while you're at work. I didn't have that when Richard and Susan were born.
Marilyn:	What did you do?
Ellen:	I chose to continue with my career as a music teacher. We hired a woman to watch Richard and the Susan, and I continued with my career.
Marilyn:	Do you think you made the right decision?
Ellen:	I think I did. But when Robbie was born, I decided to give full-time attention to raising Robbie. I felt differently at that time.
Marilyn:	And you gave up your career as a music teacher?
Ellen:	Not exactly. I continued to teach piano lessons at home.
Marilyn:	How did you feel about being away when Susan and Richard were babies?
Ellen:	I think I did the right thing for them and for myself and for Philip. We needed the money. Remember?
Marilyn:	Well, we do too, Ellen. Everything I earn helps us towards getting that house we want and need.
Saturday afternoon. Susan joins Ellen, Marilyn, and Max on the patio.
Susan:	I can't wait till he's just a little older. Our toy company makes the most wonderful toys for kids.
Marilyn:	Max thanks you. I thank you. And Richard thanks you. Now may I please say hello?
Susan:	[to Marilyn] Hello. [to Ellen] Hello. I miss Max and think about him all week long. We talk about him at dinnertime.
Ellen:	Will you please try to relax? I've never seen you so wound up.
Marilyn:	You seem to be enjoying the pressure.
Susan:	The truth is, I am. My job is not an easy one, but I really enjoy it.
Marilyn:	That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Susan.
Susan:	What's the problem?
Ellen:	Marilyn's career.
Marilyn:	Well, my choice of careers.
Susan:	Choice?
Marilyn:	My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.
Susan:	Why does it have to be one or the other?
Ellen:	That's what I said.
Marilyn:	How's that?
Susan:	Why can't you do both?
Ellen:	She's right.
Marilyn:	Both?
Susan:	Well, that's what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability. It's not easy, but what is?
Ellen:	And that's what I did. I did both with Richard and Susan, and I did both with Robbie.
Marilyn:	I thought you stayed home with Robbie?
Ellen:	I did. But I was lucky enough to have a career as a music teacher which I could continue at home.
Susan:	Why can't you work at home, Marilyn? You are very talented. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of you home, couldn't you?
Marilyn:	I don't know why I didn't think of it. It seems so simple now. For a year or two I could stay at home with Max and do my dress designs.
Ellen:	And you could make your dresses at home.
Susan:	Sounds like a great way to solve the problem.
Ellen:	That could solve your problem, Marilyn.
Marilyn:	I'm going to call Rita Mae at home and ask her to come by and talk about it. She wants to see Max, anyway.
Susan:	I think that really answers your questions, Marilyn. You can do it. Do your designs at home—here?
Marilyn:	And let Rita Mae do the selling at the boutique.
Ellen:	And you can both benefit financially.
Marilyn:	I'm going to call Rita Mae right now. Oh, Susan, thank you so much for coming all this way from the city to talk to me about it. I hope you don't mind having taken so much time away from your busy schedule.
Susan:	Are you kidding? I don't mind at all. As a matter of fact, I came to spend some time with my favorite nephew. [She bends over the playpen.]
Ellen:	I think you should call Rita Mae right now. I think your idea of working at home is perfect.
Marilyn:	I don't know what I would do without you. I'm lucky to have you all.
Ellen:	We are lucky to have you, Marilyn.
Susan:	And so is Max.