WINGS Community Group
This is a place firstly and foremost for Support for all Women.. Whether it be every day life issues, family or emotional support, we care and we are here to listen and support, to share the good things in life as well, to smile with each other and to give gentle encouragement and pleasant thoughts along the way.. Please feel free to ask for support and post in the...
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 " !
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 " !
deleted_user
Good one thanks for sharing Barbara
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...