FW: Just a Mom?

[Heidi G. Watts]

Heidi G. Watts
Administrative Assistant

Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 121
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

(225) 925-6291
(225) 925-6227 - fax

-----Original Message-----
From: Sweeton, Shian (S) [mailto:SSwe...@dow.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 2:18 PM
To: Flowers, Linda (LJ); Goebel, Judy (JA); Sterling, Vanessa (V); Bernard, Carolyn (C); Chambers, Morgan (M); Bruno-James, Beverly (BJ); Mascaro, Lynsey (LT)
Subject: FW: Just a Mom?











 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".  




Please send this to  another Mom,
Grandmother,
Aunt,
and  other friends you know. 

May your troubles  be less,
your blessings be  more
and nothing but happiness come  through your door!





 

 









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