Story: The Best Career (Mother):
A woman named Amina renewing her driver's
license at the Transport office was asked by
the clerk to state her occupation. She
hesitated, uncertain as how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the clerk, "do you
have a job, or are you just a housewife /
mother?"
"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 clerk
emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I
found myself in the same situation, this time
at our local police station.
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, 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, (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, (the whole
bloody 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 girl'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, (a 6
month old baby), 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 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.
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".
Be proud to be a mother. As our Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) has said, "Paradise lies
under the feet of a mother."
'Raising children properly' requires stay-at-
home parent. When you're raising children,
you don't both go off to work and leave
children for somebody else to rise.