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Mom, a great job !



A woman, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She 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 the woman.

“I’m a Mom.”

“We don’t list ‘Mom’ 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’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid air 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, (which 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 human ties, (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 oldbaby) 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 Mom.” Motherhood!

What a glorious career!
Especially when there’s a title on the door.

Does this make
grandmothers “Senior Research Scientists in the field of Child development and Human Relations”

And great grandmothers “Executive Senior Research Scientists?”

I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts “Associate Research Assistants.”







Posted in Blogs.



27 Responses

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  1. karthikeyan palani says

    Hi Reshma,
    Good one there…. and the presence of mind… well you should be in the creative dept of an advt agency…
    karthikeyan

  2. Bo says

    good on you!

  3. satnam bali says

    REALLY IT IS COMMENDABLE ANDAPPRICIATE INTRODUTION OF MOTHER AND ALL OTHER PROFESSIONS ARE NOTHING BEFORE THIS.

  4. Ashok Jairath says

    Oh Mothers! The moment a mother pronounces her identity as such desk activity may stop, Presidents may stop, Gods smile, the sun shower glory and the moons softness. Let the fairies descend from skies to dance in appreciation the winds start singing paraise let the heavens shower bliss for all these are but small gestures to acknowledge the presence of a mother. Great post. Thanks

  5. Shahanawaj Nadaf says

    Hi!!!
    Fantastic……….
    Really Nice………………..

  6. Deep shukla says

    oh my god…..u r geniuos mam, im totally agreed with you madam…..

  7. aravind das says

    fantastic

  8. aravind das says

    fantastic

  9. Jeet Sengupta says

    Hey, this is a real cool article. What about ”dads”? Should we call them Senior Vice President, Finance and External Affairs?

  10. Bharat Desai says

    Hi Reshma, Extra-ordinarily Wonderful, what a blog in the role of the Mother/Housewife, and a ”Knock-Out punch to the MCP’’s of the world.

  11. Mahen Soni says

    Excellent one Reshma thanks 4 informing us

  12. Harvendra Tomar says

    nice are u realy say this mom

  13. Inder M VIG. says

    a greatest one i say but most of the times it ends as a thankless job.

  14. sadaf says

    really gr8 job……:)

  15. Noanee Kapadia says

    And God bless you in your human research and development project!

  16. simha chalam says

    Just Just Just!!!!! Wonderful

  17. Hemang says

    what i say ? mom…. the great job of women… it can change her focus of life. no… no … more words i”ve for this heavy job… very good artical

  18. avinash pal says

    yea Reshma, it is not far fr truth. all moms should be designated this way.

  19. Karthik - Dexter says

    Excellent one Reshma, loved it!
    But what does it make Fathers? :D

  20. aravind das says

    good god…great titles

  21. Prakash Chaudhary says

    good wording!

  22. Sanjay Pattani says

    God can not reach at everywhere, so he made Mother..!!
    Really nice…!!

  23. ajay mane says

    Its really Great!!!

  24. sanjay arora says

    nice way to compile facts

  25. tanuj neogi says

    Sometimes the lighter sides of the life become heavier than the heaviest one…A beautiful one…Thanks for sharing…

  26. j m says

    agreed 100%. good blog

  27. chandrakant parmar says

    great job…………………….best job .than any other………..mom