That occupation blank

Ok, as a stay at home mother, we find ourselves often at the difficult task of what to put in that little blank on various medical, school etc forms....occupation. Homemaker? Housewife? Sound too 50's? How about SAHM?, Family Caretaker, or Minors Supervisor? What else is applicable?....Teacher, Doctor, Chauffeur, Nurse, Therapist, Negotiator, Mediator, Formator....the list goes on and on. Someone who struggles with a self identity will suffer in order to place the correct word, thinking....'I am so much more....I have a degree, a Masters, a Doctorate, I was once a CEO of a major corp....'.. Titles don't define us. How could a title define all the work that Mother encompasses? It just can't.

Obviously the point of the occupation blank is to identify what or where brings home the $$. That's all. The form isn't mocking you, belittling you, or challenging what you know to be the best for your child. The struggle is simply the lack of confidence in the road you have chosen. The idea that a person is what they "do" - that the title a company may give, actually defines who we are - that's the injustice. We know better. It's just a title.

And truly that lady who accepts the form, whether it's the medical office assistant, school secretary, or the paper pusher on the other end of the mail doesn't care the title you gave yourself. All the agonizing time you spent to label yourself accurately is wasted, as the point of the question had been missed. Do you contribute financially to the household, and how so?

And if that question is the issue, weigh the immense contribution you make to a future generation by molding your child at home. No financial contribution can touch that. Mother is in a league all her own. And the sooner that we Stay At Home Mothers realize that, the less agony we face on those silly forms. We can't be encompassed by only a block space, a title, a question on a form. We give of ourselves, every day, 24 hours a day. What paying job can say that? And if you think of one, wouldn't you rather give up that job, to stay at home with your kids?

Comments

Anonymous said…

'Mother is the word for God on the hearts and lips of all little children' What a wonderful occupation that is not given enough respect or value. A mom that chooses to be their kids Mom and be home with them giving them their whole attention is someone to be respected. There is no worth that can do it justice!

July 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM

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