mothers

May 29, 1999

<<<your dr. sounds very intelligent. my MD's NEVER suggested lyme testing.

only my mother ... she pressured the " little man " to do this!!!>>>

Hiya! My mom was the one to ask for me to be tested as well! Of course when it

came back markedly positive, no one believed it, but that's a whole different

story. This sure is a mother driven disease! ;o) Cheryl

October 22, 2002

MOTHERS

A woman renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked

by the woman recorder to state her occupation, 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 . " 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. "

" 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 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 more of a 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 (a 6 month old baby) 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.

Does this make grandmothers " Senior Research Associates in the field of Child

Development and Human Relations " and great grandmothers Executive Senior

Research Associates " ? I think so!!! I also think it makes aunts " Associate

Research Assistants " .

Keep up the good work. God has given us an amazing opportunuty

October 22, 2002

LOL. That's great. I heard one mother liked to say she

was " retired. "

I happily use the term " stay at home mom " that is now common enough

to that many people recognize it when it is refered to as " SAHM. " I

notice that older generations and forms are not familiar with it.

The label " housewife " ignores the fact that what SAHMs do is take

care of their kids all day, not take care of their house all day. We

may have to clean up the house a little more than a working mom,

since our kids are messing it up, but believe me, none of us choose

to quit work so that we can spend time with our houses, we quit our

jobs so that we can take care of our kids. Our title should reflect

that.

> MOTHERS

>

> A woman renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office

was asked

> by the woman recorder to state her occupation, 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 . " 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. "

>

> " 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 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 more of a 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 (a 6 month old

baby) 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.

>

> Does this make grandmothers " Senior Research Associates in the

field of Child

> Development and Human Relations " and great grandmothers Executive

Senior

> Research Associates " ? I think so!!! I also think it makes

aunts " Associate

> Research Assistants " .

>

> Keep up the good work. God has given us an amazing opportunuty

>

October 22, 2002

I have to say I have a lot of respect for SAHMs. Other moms at work also

feel the same way. I know for a fact that the times I'm at home to take

care of my children, it was MUCH MORE work than working in my office. I

always thought it's amusing when people ask moms if they work or not....like

taking care of your children at home is not work.

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