Nutsy
<font color=green>Only drinks Cappuccino<br><font
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2002
- Messages
- 28,201
This was sent to me by my Mum & I'd like to share it with all the other SAHM's out there...........
Reclassification of a Mother
A woman renewing here drivers licence, was asked by the assistant for her occupation. Emily hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is, do you have a job, or are you just....?"
"Of course I have a job" snapped Emily, "I am a mother."
"We don't list 'Mother' as an occupation, 'Housewife' covers it," said the assistant emphatically.
I forgot her story until the other day when I was in the same situation, this time at the Town Hall. The clerk, 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.
I don't know what made me say it - the words just popped out "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in mid air and looked as if she had not heard correctly. I repeated the title slowly emphasising each word carefully. Then I stared with wonder as my title was written in bold black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," the clerk said with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Cooly 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 this job is one of the most demanding in the humanities [any mother care to disagree?] and I often work 14 hours a day [24 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 glamourous 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 developement program testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a mark over the bureaucracy! I had gone on the offical records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than just another mother.
Motherhood what a glorious career.
Reclassification of a Mother
A woman renewing here drivers licence, was asked by the assistant for her occupation. Emily hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is, do you have a job, or are you just....?"
"Of course I have a job" snapped Emily, "I am a mother."
"We don't list 'Mother' as an occupation, 'Housewife' covers it," said the assistant emphatically.
I forgot her story until the other day when I was in the same situation, this time at the Town Hall. The clerk, 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.
I don't know what made me say it - the words just popped out "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in mid air and looked as if she had not heard correctly. I repeated the title slowly emphasising each word carefully. Then I stared with wonder as my title was written in bold black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," the clerk said with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Cooly 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 this job is one of the most demanding in the humanities [any mother care to disagree?] and I often work 14 hours a day [24 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 glamourous 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 developement program testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a mark over the bureaucracy! I had gone on the offical records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than just another mother.
Motherhood what a glorious career.
