My mum sent me this story below in an email yesterday - I hadn't seen it before so I had to share.
A woman, renewing her driver's license, was asked by
the woman at Registry to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,
'Do you have a job or are you just a ...?'
'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mum.'
'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'Housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,
'Do you have a job or are you just a ...?'
'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mum.'
'We don't list 'Mum' 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...
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City 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 mid-air 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,
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City 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 mid-air 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
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
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
More distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
'just another Mum.'
Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
How true is this?
Cheers, Fi
How true this is! Great story!
ReplyDeleteWe're all 'just mums' aren't we Sandy? Thanks for dropping by
DeleteThat was perfect. Bravo on the distinguished career!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific post, Fi! Thank you for the laugh at the end, and for the validation of what we women do beyond any career. We are indeed Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations. :)
ReplyDelete