Young and naive, first marriage, nine months pregnant, aching back, soiled uniform, sore feet, tips on the table, but it paid off. Nine months of pregnancy brought me my first child, my baby girl, my ?mini me.? Yes, it paid off. Waitressing for ten-hour days, driving an hour one way to work and back, but it paid my bills, put gas in the car, bought diapers, formula and food for the table. Though it was hard on my body physically and emotionally draining to leave my baby such long hours though she was mainly with my parents, it paid off. She grew up knowing how hard a mother had to work and how special Grandma and Papa were to both of us.