Not Just a Mom

I received an email from a friend titled "Not Just a Mom". It was great! It reminded me of why my husband calls me the Household Executive. Although here at home we refer to me as the Household Executive, I never really share this elsewhere. From now on I am going to answer the question, "What do you do/What is your job?" with the answer "Household Executive." Whenever I am filling out paperwork in a doctor's office etc. I will fill in my occupation as Household Executive, fill in my home address, and my home phone number. We will see what the response will be. Here is the email...

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 youroccupation?" 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, (the whole darned family)
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 in 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."

What a great article! There wasn't an author listed in the email so I don't know who to give credit to for this material!