Identity

I've long been reading the witty and creative ways to fill in the blanks;

__________________
title

or

__________________
occupation

We find them on every doctor, dentist, insurance, application.

I hate the title "stay at home mom." I am home with my boys, but we rarely stay. It sounds frumpy. I picture someone that is at home wearing socks and a lacy 80's church-marm dress with teensy flowers and a little bow on it.

I'm not that stay at home mom.

But I feel deceitful if I write anything else. If I write "teacher" (though I am) I am misleading someone to a degree. If I write mother...well, that's not so much of an explanation.

Giver of nurturing,nourishment, health care, taxi, educator, janitor, activities coordinator, manager.... well, who is my audience? YOU, all my mama friends know. But what do we write on that little line? What do you write on that blank spot? Daughter, mother, sister, wife, friend, mother, claimed by a Mighty Creator.

This afternoon I was putting food in the pantry and E, from his perch at the bar told me, "Mom, you look like a doctor." I giggled, and told him it's true. I do help these boys to feel better sometimes, right?

It reminded me of when J was about 2. He told all folks that would listen that I was a nurse. It took awhile for me to figure out that he probably overheard me talk about "nursing" and assumed I was, therefore a nurse. Well, I am. When my boys don't feel so hot I take them into the office of my arms, speak to them softly and try to figure out what's bugging. I measure them too, and have them step on a scale- make a big deal that J is now 50 lbs, N is 40 lbs, and E is 30 lbs. How do you like that, all in a row. :)

Anyhow, I still don't know how to answer this age old question. Maybe I'll just print this out and staple it to every upcoming application;