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 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 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 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
>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!