occupation: Mother (a lot of you have already seen this)

[buckeyemomma]

I know a lot of you have read this...but just for those who haven't:Occupation: Mother
>
>A few months ago, when I was picking up the children
>at school, another 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.
>