And Your Occupation is?
Posted by: root <root@...>
mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation.
"Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.
Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one handy, she blurted out
the reason for her question.
It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the
County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation,
Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or are you just
a .....?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."
"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife' covers it," said the
recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same
situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a
high-sounding title like Official Interrogator or Town Registrar.
"And what is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human
Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though
she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most
significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was
written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your
field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself
reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the
laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm
working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four
credits (all daughters)."....."Of course, the job is one of the most
demanding in the
humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24
is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill
careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed
the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was
greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our
new experimental model (6 months) in the child-development program, testing
out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on
bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more
distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."
Motherhood...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the
door.
Send this to another Mother you know. Whether a stay at home Mom or a career
Mom, we should all carry this title.
--
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