My first job was at Pixie Preschool in Tampa, Florida. I was 16 years old. It was about 2 miles from where I lived. I rode my bike to work with my son Adam in a child seat on the handlebars. My boss was Jacque. She was a single mom with two children, the youngest Andi, a girl, had a disability. She suffered a lack of oxygen during birth, and although her speech was slow, she was very clever.

Jacque started her own daycare partially because it would enable her to spend more time with Andi and guide her development. It would also give her interaction with other children. She did not want Andi isolated, unable to attend school, the way children with disabilities were in the early 70’s. It was only in 1975 that a federal law was passed that provided every child with a disability to a free, appropriate public education.

Jacque was a very modern women for the time. The Helen Reddy song, “I Am Woman” was popular at that time, and it was the epitome of Jacque. She was independent, a business owner, smart, confident, liberated, empowered and funny.

Jacque was probably in her early to mid-30’s. She was part of the 60’s generation women’s rights movement that effected so many changes for women in the west. In 1960, women were given the right to use the pill as a contraceptive, obtain credit in their own name without having their husband co-sign, until 1969 women could not attend Yale or Princeton and could not attend Harvard until 1977, and it wasn’t until 1973 that women could serve on juries in all 50 states.

Growing up in the south Texas, the women of that age who were in my life weren’t quite as liberated as Jacque appeared to be. I was excited to be around her and learn from her.

I have a few pictures of my days there and the children. Strangely enough while clearing out some things recently, I found a Christmas card picture of Jacque’s kids, Greg and Andi. Greg would be in his 60’s now as I was 16 and he was 9.

Looking at the picture, I wonder where they might be today, and how life evolved for them.

Today is International Woman’s Day and although it has some controversial origins, it is a day to celebrate women. Jacque was one woman who helped shape my life and help me see the possibilities for the future. Today I honor her. She would be in her 80’s now. I would google her but I can remember everything about her, except her last name.