Your Careers

[Guest guest]

I know this was posted before.... but it's a good one!

......................

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 Clerk 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. 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.