Not Just A Mom

母亲的含义

A woman named Emily renewing her driv- er's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occu- pation. She hesitated， uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is， explained the record- er， "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 occupa- tion .. 'Housewife' covers it， "said the record- er 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 Interroga- tor"or "Town Registrar". "What is your occu- pation？"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 won- der as my pronouncement was written in bold， black ink on the official questionnaire.

一位名叫埃米莉的妇女在县办事处给驾驶执照续期时，一名女记录员问及她的职业。（剩余2604字）