As we head into Mother's Day, I found this story in the Glen Burnie Evangelical Presbyterian News. I thought it a good way to move into Mother's Day weekend, so it is reproduced below. Before I could answer, she told me she had just returned from renewing her driver's license, and, when asked her occupation, she hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
Housewife covers it.
I was asked. I am 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 me correctly. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words, then stared in wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black, ink, on an official questionnaire. There was an increased note of respect in the clerk's attitude as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.