I couldn’t believe my eyes and my mouth hung open while I read this. Then the chuckling began and grew until I was laughing too loudly for the library. This is great!
Found on the Internet:
A woman named Emily, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office, encountered a woman recorder demanding to know her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
“What I mean is this,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a . . . “
“Of course I have a job,” snapped Emily. “I’m a mom.”
“We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation. ‘Housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.
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: 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 appeared in bold, blue 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 replying, “I manage a continuing program of research, in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said ‘indoors and out’.) I’m working on my Master’s, 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?) (any dad care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it.) But the job is more challenging than most careers and the rewards are more of a certain satisfaction rather than mere 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, my glamorous new career buoying me, three of my lab assistants – ages 13, 7, and 3, approached to greet me. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (the 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 many, than “just another mom.”
Motherhood – what a glorious career! And what fun to have 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”.
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart!
Please forward this to anyone you want.
And what about you? Can you make up some clever response for this age-old competition/comparison?
How do YOU answer when they want to know if you work, where, or your work phone number? Later, I will post my usual answer(s).
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photo credit: Wikipedia
Home's Cool! 
When I was a stay-at-home mom, and when I was a homeschooling mom, I always replied, “Yes!” when asked if I worked. I worked at home, so the same phone number applied. It is still true since I am now self-employed (at home) as an artist.
Thanks for this comment, Ruth!
Yes.
What a novel idea. Let your “yes” be “yes”!
Love it.
I love this reply. Isn’t it amazing that “mom” isn’t acceptable but given some fancy title it changes the entire picture! There definitely is something wrong when “Mom” isn’t enough. I must say I’ve found myself in plenty of opportune moments that I have come up with similar replies…but yours is the best! I’m laughing at this and I’ve sent it on to my sister. Now, relax and enjoy your son’s wedding. You’ve had a lot to contend with losing two close friends recently. Thanks for this post.
You are so welcome! Thanks for your kind words, too!
Yes, I remember when every mom was content with being the mom. They say WWII changed a lot of it. I don’t know.
Katharine I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. You have been an inspiration to me as well as sharing my daughter Katharine’s name.
To claim – go to hppt://www.justiceforraymond.wordpress.com and follow instructions
Thanks, so much, dear, and Welcom to Home’s Cool! I need to visit over at your place to see how everything went, recently! 🙂
I have read this before. My dear husband calls me his HOME EXECUTIVE.
Thanks, Karen, for this addition! We do make a few upper level decisions, don’t we!! 😉
Very nice!
Thank you very much, Deepa, and Welcome to Home’s Cool! I hope you visit often! 🙂
Ha Ha! I LOVE this and really am laughing out loud!! I’m going to use this title myself! I’m taking it. Hope you don’t mind! Us homeschool moms need more credit!! 🙂
I do not mind at all! Just copypaste if you want. The originator said to spread it freely. 🙂
I love it!
Thanks, Tilly! 🙂 I’m partial to it myself.. 😉
I love this post!! 😉
Thanks so much, Sharon, and Welcome to Home’s Cool. I enjoyed it, too, when I found it!
Hope you enjoy visiting here, often! 🙂
I really like “Homemaker.” There’s so much power and love in that word, I think. Although, I usually just say “self-employed” now that I have my doula and childbirth education work.
Sure! Me too about “homemaker”, especially the love. 🙂
I just say I work at home. I guess I’m not very creative. And maybe part of it is that I don’t see a need to label it in any special way. To the right people, my job title and description mean more than a Master’s in whatever. And the opinions of those people and that of my Heavenly Father are the opinions I value most. Of course it bothers me when some don’t see the value in what I do, but I try not to let that get me down.
Hi, Victoria, It usually doesn’t bother me, either, unless they won’t let me write a check! 😉
And as long as my family is happy and well-supplied, I’m not too adamant about any of it. I just found this cute story and thought it would be fun.
What a fun way to put it! I really enjoyed this….would have loved to have seen the look on the recorder’s face!
One time, only, I encountered someone who was able to decipher what I actually meant, or suspected she did, and gave me the oddest look. So I had pity on her and told her “I homeschool”. She about fell out laughing. That was fun.