Bobbie Wagner
Bobbie Wagner
Bobbie’s blog
Bobbie Wagner Home and Estate Organizing
Who am I? Well, as of today, I feel I am a happy, healthy, well-adjusted woman.
I am wife for 40 years to my high school sweetheart and best friend; mother to two wonderful daughters, mother-in-law to two fantastic sons-in-law, and grandmother to four adorable grandchildren.
I grew up in on a farm in Northern Minnesota, have two sisters and two brothers, (yes, I suffer from the classic “middle-child syndrome”). My childhood was in a word, “great”. Sunday dinner at my grandmother’s whom I admired and learned so many things from and having more than 30 first cousins to play games with was fantastic. Our family often talks about how close we all still are. Sunday chicken dinner continued at my mom’s and I credit her for teaching me how to feed the masses and be a good homemaker. She was in charge of the bookkeeping, yard work, house maintenance, childrearing, laundry, and of course the constant cooking and baking. She could drive a tractor or combine when needed, and sew a First Communion dress in between trips to town to get parts. I think I took my mom for granted because she could do anything she tried and do it well. My mom was a talented and strong woman.
My dad attended country school until 8th grade and then went to work for other farmers. He was a WWII veteran and then earned his GED after the war. He worked very hard building a successful farming operation that grew sugar beets and small grains. Because my parents did not have the means to further their education, school was paramount when we were growing up. My sisters and brothers and I knew that doing well in school was expected and that furthering our education was their dream for us.
My husband and I also farmed in the valley and feel fortunate that we were able to raise our girls in the same environment as we were raised. I taught Family and Consumer Sciences at the high school level for several years, earning my college degree after our daughters started school. We are now enjoying the next chapter in our lives. When we moved to the lakes area after farming for over 30 years, a friend told me that there were nice people everywhere, I am happy to say she is right. I love to sew, play golf, and join my friends for biking, walking, snowshoeing, or kayaking.
I have many traditional values, and yet know that women’s rights and privileges are not to be taken for granted. I graduated high school before Title Nine was established and have always felt girls today do not realize how fortunate they are to have so many athletic options, other than cheerleading. I have tried to be a positive role model for my daughters and their children, but at the same time struggle with the connotation that The Bitches View may bring to some people. It is what I have come to think of as a “generational perspective.” Becoming a part of this venture has been a process and a joy, and as Lou said at one of our planning meetings “Have fun with it”. I am proud to be one of the women who have put our efforts together to bring something to the table that may help someone else. When I asked one of my former administrator’s advice about a possible job reassignment he said, “Change is good.” It is my hope that this change will bring some good to those who read it.