There's a title on your door

Posted By: Ginger
Date: Thursday, 9 October 2003, at 8:07 a.m.

A woman named Jean, 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 define herself. "What I mean," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a housewife?" "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list `mother` 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 office. 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, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasising the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my words were recorded in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just how do you get into your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I began with a minor in sex and then a continuing program of research both in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm now working on my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four on-going projects (4-daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?.) and I often work 14-18 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 experiment, (a 6 month old), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

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"?

YES;

and Great grandmothers EXECUTIVE SENIOR RESEARCH CONSULTING ASSOCIATES"!

"NO QUESTION ABOUT IT!"

And I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Advisors".

 

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