Fw: The Gretest Occupation

[Guest guest]

>

> >

> > A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school,

another

> > mother I knew well rushed up to me. 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,

> > 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 a 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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