QUOTE of the WEEK FOR MOMS EVERYWHERE: 

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he created mothers." 
Jewish Proverb


STORY for Your WEEK:

Not “Just a Mom”
By Author Unknown, thanks to Claire via Catherine for submitting!

A woman named Emily 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 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." "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, ballpoint 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, (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 
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 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.

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".


MORE QUOTES for Your WEEK: 
"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for 
five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." 
Tenneva Jordan 

"All that I am my mother made me." 
John Quincy Adams 

"One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters." 
George Herbert 

"To understand your parents' love, you must raise children yourself." 
Chinese Proverb 

"Most mothers are instinctive philosophers." 
Harriet Beecher Stowe 

"Nothing else will ever make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as 
tired, as motherhood." 
Elia Parsons 

"Sometimes the poorest woman leaves her children the richest 
inheritance." 
Ruth E. Renkel 


Dust If You Must

By Author Unknown (Our thanks to Claire via Catherine for submitting) 
"A house becomes a home when you can write, 'I love you' on the furniture." 

I can't tell you how many countless hours that I have spent CLEANING! I used to 
spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect -"in 
case someone came over". Then I realized one day that no one came over; they 
were all out living life and having fun! 

Now, when people visit, I find no need to explain the "condition" of my home. 
They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I 
was away living life and having fun.  If you haven't figured this out yet, please 
heed this advice. 

Life is short. Enjoy it! 

Dust if you must, 
but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake a cake or plant 
a seed, ponder the difference between want and need? 

Dust if you must, 
but there's not much time, with rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to 
hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead. 

Dust if you must, 
but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter 
of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around again. 

Dust if you must, 
but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. And when you go - and go 
you must - you, yourself will make more dust! 

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you 
have lived.


For previous stories and messages files, Please click HERE