I receive a lot of great emails from friends, family and business contacts as I am sure most of you do....this one of course came from another photographer friend of mine who has 3 'assistants'...
JUST
A MOM?
A
woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's
office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She 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 the woman.
'I'm
a Mom.'
'We don't list 'Mom' 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 mid air 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, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is
one of the most demanding in the humani ties, (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 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
Mom.' Motherhood!
What
a glorious career! Especially
when there's a title on the door.
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.'