If you were a kid in the 80s and asked your mom for a tissue, chances are she would pull one out of her purse with ninja-like speed. When it came time to find the car keys, however, you could be standing there…awhile. Her purse often seemed like a black hole, yet it contained everything we needed to feel better (kleenex), be entertained (crayons or gum), and feel like her favorite kid.
1. The Checkbook
At the grocery store, Mom could pull out her checkbook and fill out a check on the little writing ledge. She knew the drill. Date, name of store, amount written in numbers and words, and to be safe, a line drawn from where the amount stopped to the end of the white space, so no one could try to change the amount. She might even have had the check register in her purse. Maybe it was tucked right behind the checks, or perhaps she needed to find the pen or the receipt that she hadn’t entered yet. The grocery bill needed subtracting and Friday’s deposit needed adding. Whether the electric bill had cleared was another question. She might not get the chance to record the new balance until there was no one waiting behind her.
2. The Coupon Envelope
Coupons had a place in Mom’s purse, too. The coupons came from the Sunday paper, clipped at home before the shopping. They might be in an accordion file or kept in a paper envelope that softened with age. A good coupon might fall behind a dry-cleaning ticket and stay there until it’d expired.
Sunday’s newspaper and scissors supplied the contents: cereal, laundry detergent, coffee, perhaps something nobody particularly wanted at a price too good to pass up. A coupon for the family-size box was of no use if someone brought home the wrong size. Mom had said family size. Having to go back was what annoyed her.
3. The Little Address Book
The dentist, the school, the hairdresser and the relatives had a place in Mom’s little address book. When someone moved, she crossed out the old address and wrote in the new one, and there might be a scrap of paper with that friend or family member’s phone number on it tucked in behind the page.
4. The Wallet Full of School Pictures
Her wallet might’ve held a plastic sleeve filled with her kids’ school pictures. Photos of cousins or new babies could be tucked in there, too. Mom kept copies handy in case she met a relative who hadn’t received one yet. The plastic sleeves could turn cloudy where they folded, but that school haircut was still easy to recognize.
5. The Change Purse
Some moms kept a clasp change purse inside a larger purse. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters: there might be money for the gumball machine, though Mom might point out that she already had gum. Some of the change was for a pay phone. Finding the little purse inside the larger one could take a while.
6. The Tissue Packet
The tissue packet’s corners had softened from being carried around in her purse. Mom could hand you a tissue that she knew was still clean. If it was the last one, a receipt and a candy wrapper might come out with it.
7. The Lipstick
A favorite lipstick could be worn nearly flat before Mom bought another one. She turned it up as far as it would go and used what she could reach. Buying another one stayed on the list for next time.
One Reddit reader remembered the smell of their mother’s purse:
“My Mom always had a stash of Doublemint in her purse. Her purse had the distinct smell of Doublemint, lipstick and the lack of cash.” (via Reddit)
8. The Powder Compact
The powder wore down in the middle until a ring remained around the edge of the compact. The puff had a little ribbon across the back for two fingers. If the powder broke, the loose pieces rattled inside and dusted the puff. The mirror could get cloudy with powder, which made it harder to check her lipstick.
9. The Folding Brush or Small Comb
Mom might wet a small comb under a restroom faucet to press down the hair that sprang up in the car. She could use a folding brush, too. Its covered bristles kept it tidy in the purse; some versions had a mirror in the handle. Maybe you were going to a wedding or a restaurant and Mom wanted your hair brushed first. When the photograph came back, you might see her point.
10. The Gum
Peppermint, spearmint, or cinnamon: the flavor depended on what your mother liked to buy. The green Doublemint pack was one familiar choice; the brand has been around since 1914. Extra was the new and exciting one.
If you wanted a piece of gum, there was a good chance your sibling did too. With one stick left, Mom could divide it between the two of you, though you might want to compare the pieces before agreeing that they were even.
For one family, handing out gum became something to remember their mother by:
“We actually handed out double mint gum at my Mom’s funeral as a nod to all the double mint she gave us in church over the years.” (via Reddit)
11. The Purse Candy
A Certs or wrapped strawberry, peppermint or butterscotch candy might’ve acquired the scent of the purse. Sometimes the wrapper stuck to the candy and had to be peeled away in little pieces. It might taste faintly of lipstick, leather or hand lotion.
12. The Just-in-Case Department
An emery board or some aspirin could be tucked away in her purse.
She might’ve packed hand lotion, a sanitary pad and a safety pin, too.
The extras varied with the family. One reader recalled: “…my mom also kept a hot-wheels firetruck in her purse for me to play with at restaurants.” (via Reddit) Another might carry crayons or a church bulletin folded into a fan. There could even be a loose button waiting to be sewn back on a coat.
What Was in Your Mom’s Purse?
What else was in mom’s purse during the 1980s? Share your memories in the comments below!
Featured photo: A mother and daughter talking at home in 1980. Photo: Linda Bartlett.
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