Just got this and thought it was worth a post.

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!

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.'

Spider!!!

I have to post these, although I should be getting kids dressed! We went to the Butterfly Pavilion last week and we all held Rosie the Tarantula - even ME!!! It was too cool - and I HATE spiders!

t

You know the old saying about kids and wrapping paper...

Well, it works with a rake and some mulch too!

We had co-op here yesterday, and after lunch the kids got really involved in a project down by the swings. It seems that Jacob found one of the kid's leaf rakes, and decided to start raking up the mulch under the swings. Will quickly jumped in with a second rake and before you could say "Hey, don't do that!", they had raked up all the mulch and scooped it (with their hands) into a large Rubbermaid box. It went from there to the wagon, where it was rolled, you guessed it, back to the swings, where they spread it out. Then they repeated the process - heck, I don't know, I gave up counting! But they were so busy about their work, and everyone got involved except for Torin (his mom wisely kept him out of it - he likes to eat bark!). The cool thing was, they were working so well together, they were not fighting over rakes, wagons or bins, and they were very disappointed when it was time to go!

So much for putting in a gajillion dollar play ground back there - I'm headed to Lowe's for some more mulch!!

t