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 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 Mom.’

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

A – Age: 34 (I am old)

B – Bed Size: King

C – Chore you hate: dishes and laundry

D – Dog’s name: Macy and Bear

E – Essential start your day item: shower

F – Favorite color : Green and Purple

G – Gold or Silver: Gold

H – Height: 5’5″

I – Instruments you play(ed): none

J – Job title: Lead Employment/Eligibility Specialist

K – Kid(s): 3

L – Living arrangements: with my hubby, kids and dogs

M – Mom’s name: Debbie

N – Nicknames: Nikki, Micole, Auntie

O – Overnight hospital stay other than birth: birth of children, appendix out

P – Pet Peeve: lazy people who don’t want to make their live better

Q – Quote from a movie: Drama Drama Drama

R – Right or left handed: Left

S – Siblings: Joseph, Michael, Desirae

T – Time you wake up: 4:30 am

U- Underwear: Yep everyday

V – Vegetable you dislike: Spinach

W – Ways you run late: alarm didn’t go off

X – X-rays you’ve had: head, arm

Y – Yummy food you make: everything just ask my hubby

Z – Zoo favorite: White alligator

I found this article about Susan Boyle it really touched me so I thought I would share it with you!

We are Susan Boyle.

Susan Boyle is the dowdy, frizzy haired, overweight, single, never-been-kissed, unemployed 47 year old woman who lives with her cat, Pebbles, and appeared on Britain Talent Show (similar to American Idol.)

She took the show and audience by storm. And, now she (her performance) has the world writing, reading and viewing this extraordinary event beyond belief.
If you haven’t seen the video (viewed by over 80,000,000 at this point) see it now. Try one of these links: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=999m8&m=1cqbkXcbOKe5of&b=s5X0WpBbUItFBxPRJpjHAQ, http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=999m8&m=1cqbkXcbOKe5of&b=Xq40lMwRZcqG7ccLfSugmA or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

I spent at least 3 hours Sunday playing the video over and over and over. It brought a verible flood of feelings and thoughts that I could not let go. I was mesmerized.
What’s the appeal? What’s the power?
Much has been written on the power of her performance and I too, want to share my thoughts?
So, who is Susan Boyle?

You look at Susan Boyle and you see yourself. You don’t want to admit it, but you see yourself. There is this self in the hidden recesses of the greater you that you avoid. You look at Susan and see that part of you that is unattractive and dowdy. You see the part that feels isolated, that feels alone and unconnected, that part that long ago had a dream but that dream shattered by the perceived reality of your world. You see that dufuss.

And you see that part most powerfully when you are in crisis, when you face loss, when your worth and essence is called into question when you face failure and when you live the life flattened by the shattered dream. There she is… that dufuss.

And so, the audience looked at Susan and in their latent anxiety began to roll their eyes, ridicule, mock and deride Susan for her seeming dowdiness. What a dufuss! Simon rolls his eyes. Amanda, “What’s THIS?” Piers laughs. (The panel of judges.)

And then Susan begins to sing… and her voice emerges. This is the “real” Susan. This is the part of her that for so long wanted to be expressed, wanted to emerge. Her dream speaks! Beautiful! Powerful! The heart and soul of Susan in all her inner boldness and confidence stands before us.
The anxiety bound ridicule of the audience is transformed to cheers and applause as Susan begins to sing, “I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was high And life worth living,” She sings her dream. (Yes, maybe for me too, there is that inner core of strength and beauty that wants to sing with notes of clarity and perfection. I too remember that dream in time gone by.)

The camera shifts to Piers who swallows that lump when he hears “Then I was young and unafraid, And dreams were made and used and wasted.”

And Susan ends:

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I’m living

So different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

This is all of us.

This is all of us, especially as life around us seemingly recedes.

We lose. We lose the “dream.” We believe we are diminished.

But, perhaps it was the wrong dream?

Or, not MY dream? Or maybe there was something else… all along.

…That the audience and judges (and the other 80,000,000 views of this video) discover as Susan becomes her Dream.

I dreamed a dream in time gone by

When hope was high

And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night

With their voices soft as thunder

As they tear your hope apart

And they turn your dream to shame

And still I dream he’ll come to me

That we will live the years together

But there are dreams that cannot be

And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I’m living

I encourage you… view the video. Reflect upon your battle with yourself… that battle of finding and speaking that powerful, true, beautiful voice within.