...And your occupation is?
Mother
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.
Send this to another Mother you know. Whether a stay at home Mom or a career Mom, we should all carry this title.
The Images of Mother:
4 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE ~ Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE ~ Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE ~ That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE ~ Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE ~ Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
Please send this to five phenomenal women...and a few phenomenal men...today in celebration of Women's History Month.
If you do, something good will happen - you will boost another person's self-esteem.
Jokes
|
"E" Rated Jokes
|
"A" Rated Jokes
|
"C" Rated Jokes
|
|
(E) Everyone -- Appropriate for folks of all ages.
(T) Older Teens -- Appropriate for folks aged 13 and older.
* (A) Adult -- Appropriate only for folks 18 and older.
**Adult Access
* (C) Colorful -- Appropriate only for folks 18 and older; however, these are jokes that some may find offensive.
**Colorful Access
* Our "A" and "C" rated jokes are password protected areas. We will only give access to those who request, and only to
those who certify that they are aged 18 and over. As we really have no way to know for sure, we do advise that parents
supervise their children online. While we have password protected these pages, we cannot always be sure that those who enter
these areas are truly over the age of 18. Responsiblity for minors on the internet is being left in the hands of their parents
and/or guardians. We will not be held liable for anyone under age accessing this material. Please, we do ask that if you are
under 18, do not email asking for access. If you are easily offended, please do not view the jokes in our "C" rated section.
Jokes in the "A" and "C" rated sections may contain vulgar language, sexual, adult, racial, prejudicial or violent material.
Jokes in the "E" rated category may contain innuendos that some parents may object to.
** When emailing, please do NOT ALTER the subject line. In the body of the email, please state your first name, last
initial, and email address. Please also certify that you are over the age of 18, and give your year of birth. If any of
the requested information is omitted, access will NOT be given.
Passwords will be changed on a regular basis. So, if you received access once and return, you will have to re-request
a password to enter again.
|
|
All graphics and
pages are copyright © 1997 - 2008 Pages 4 Ever
(except where noted). Do not take, copy, steal, plagiarize or use in any
way, shape or format without the express written permission of Pages
4 Ever.
Some backgrounds and graphics made from clipart acquired from ArtToday, Boxed Art,
friends, my own imagination, and/or
graphic CD collections that I have purchased. If you find anything on this site
that you have copyright to, and can prove it, please let me know and I will
gladly either remove it or place a link back to you, whichever you prefer.
If you should find any broken links, please drop us a line and let us know the
exact URL the broken link is on. Thank you.
|