Motherhood ..... also known as RACDHR

Sent to me by a mother.....

Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations

A few months ago, when I was picking up the  children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation.  "Do you know what you and I are?" she  demanded. Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one  handy, she blurted out the reason for her question.

It seemed she had  just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County  Clerk's office.  Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had 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 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 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.

"And 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 pompous 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 (the whole darned 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 in  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 (6 months) in the child-development program, testing   out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! 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  mother."

Motherhood ... what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door.