MOTHERS should be awarded MA (Masters in Achievement Research) and MD (Doctorate in Motherhood) both in fields of Child Development and Human Relations with PAY. Carolyn F ----- Original Message ----- From: <SandKatC@aol.com> To: <MAUPIN-CHAT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 7:34 PM Subject: [MAUPIN-CHAT] Just a Mother > Celebrate Your Title! > > > "I'm Just a Mother? --- Excuse Me!" > > > 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." "What is your > > occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words > > simply popped out. "I am 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 (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 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 (6 months) in the child-development > > program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had > > scored a beat in 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. > > > Send this to another Mother you know. Whether a stay at home Mom or a > > career Mom, we should all carry this title. > > > 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. >