Someone forwarded this message....

JUST  A MUM? A  woman, renewing her driver's licence  , was asked by the woman at  Registry to state her  occupation. She hesitated,  uncertain how to classify  herself.   'What  I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,    'do you have a job or are you  just a ....?' 'Of course I have a  job,' snapped the  woman. 'I'm  a Mum.' 'We don't list 'Mum' 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..   The  Clerk was obviously a career woman,  poised, efficient, and possessed of a  high sounding title like, 'Official  Interrogator' or 'City  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  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, (first the Lord and then the  whole 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, (a 6 month old  baby) in the child development  program, testing out a new vocal  pattern.  I  felt 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  Mum.'    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' And great  grandmothers 'Executive  Senior Research Associates?  I  think so!  I  also think it makes Aunts. Associate  Research Assistants.' Please  send this to another  Mum, Grandmother, Aunt, And  other friends you know. May  your troubles be less, Your blessing  be more,  And  nothing but happiness come through your  door!

Someone forwarded this message....

JUST  A MUM? A  woman, renewing her driver's licence  , was asked by the woman at  Registry to state her  occupation. She hesitated,  uncertain how to classify  herself.   'What  I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry,    'do you have a job or are you  just a ....?' 'Of course I have a  job,' snapped the  woman. 'I'm  a Mum.' 'We don't list 'Mum' 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..   The  Clerk was obviously a career woman,  poised, efficient, and possessed of a  high sounding title like, 'Official  Interrogator' or 'City  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  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, (first the Lord and then the  whole 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, (a 6 month old  baby) in the child development  program, testing out a new vocal  pattern.  I  felt 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  Mum.'    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' And great  grandmothers 'Executive  Senior Research Associates?  I  think so!  I  also think it makes Aunts. Associate  Research Assistants.' Please  send this to another  Mum, Grandmother, Aunt, And  other friends you know. May  your troubles be less, Your blessing  be more,  And  nothing but happiness come through your  door!