"You're welcome." These are the words spoken to Stephanie Land in a grocery store by a man behind her in line--because she's paying for her groceries with government assistance. Moments like this crop up throughout Land's debut memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive.
After escaping a relationship that became abusive when she got pregnant, Land has limited options. She can't rely on family for help, and friends don't realize just how much she struggles to get by. Finding work as a maid, Land becomes an intimate observer of people's lives. Yet she remains nearly invisible to them even as she comes to know their most private habits in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and beyond. Despite Land's tireless efforts juggling work and single parenting, she must rely for a time on seven different kinds of government aid. Even then, access to healthcare and healthy food for her daughter are a battle.
One constant in Maid is Land's Carhartt pants--a working person's go-to brand, ready to wash only "when you've taken them off and they still stand on their own." The metaphor is fitting. Land stands on her own, as does her story. She works constantly to support her daughter, and ultimately to achieve her own goal of moving to Missoula, Mont., to become a writer. In sharing her experience, she also offers a window into the lives of those whose stories we don't hear. Instead of "you're welcome," Land should be hearing a resounding "thank you." --Katie Weed, freelance writer and reviewer