Mother Is Asked About Her Real Occupation. Her Response Is One For The Books

Many moons ago, I was at the DMV, when I overheard a conversation between a woman and the clerk. The woman was asked to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain what to say. “What I mean is,” explained the clerk, “do you have a job, or are you just a …?”

“Of course I have a job,” snapped the woman. “I’m a mother. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world!”

“We don’t list ‘Mother’ as an occupation … ‘Home maker’ has to cover it,” said the clerk emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in a similar situation, years later, at our local police station.

The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessing a high-faluting title like, “official interrogator.” “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, 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, in the laboratory and in the field. I’m working for my master’s, and already have four credits. Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, and I often work 14 hours a day. But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are much more satisfactory than just money.” There was an increasing note of respect in the woman’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

When I got home, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants: ages 10, 7, and 3. Upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model, 6 months old, in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had triumphed over bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official record as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than “just another mother.”