Motherhood is similar to these professions - except that you're not given years to prepare or thousands of hours to perfect your skills and enhance your knowledge. It's a "learn by fire" career. And, yes, it is a career. If lucky, you're given nine short (although they may seem long at the time) months to prepare.
Some may say that a girl prepares all her life to be a mother. But, is this really true? From a young age we "play" mom, and we may even babysit or work as a childcare provider. But, is this truly learning how to be a mom?? I would argue that these things may slightly help, but they don't come close to preparing you.
No one tells you all of the "careers" you will have to learn as a mom. Here's a list of the few I've had to already learn:
- Hair stylist/Fashion designer
- Medical care provider
- Psychiatrist/Counselor
- Nutritionist/Gourmet Baby Food Chef
- Interior decorator
- Engineer (that furniture doesn't go together by itself)
- Repairman
- Car Seat Technician (this is as close to rocket scientist as I'll ever get)
- Travel Guide
- Opera Singer
- Dramatic Book Interpreter
- Comedian
- Fitness Trainer (Someone's got to motivate Baby to eventually move)
- Photographer/Videographer
- Interpreter (Baby words are often difficult for others to understand)
- Shepherd (Dogs may work well with sheep, but not so well with babies)
- Educator
- Sanitation worker
- Airplane pilot (it may be just an imaginary plane, but Baby still likes it)
- Financial adviser (Baby's got to save for college somehow)
- Taxi driver
- Etiquette instructor
These are just a few of the professions I've had to learn on-the-go. Feel free to add to the list. And, if you're just getting into the job, remember that to your baby, there's no one better than you!
Amen sister! I think motherhood is undervalued in our society and it is an uphill battle to validate this higher calling. It is more accepted to tell your friends and family that you are studying to become something that can be valued by a salaried income; but God-forbid that you tell them you are studying to become a mother! First they'll think your brain has been invaded by Stepford wives; then they'll think you're slightly mentally-incapacitated if you can't figure out motherhood on your own, by the "trial by fire," as you say!
ReplyDeleteHowever, most people fail to see that the best service we can provide to our society and our country is by being a) a wife first, b) a mother second, and 3) and everything else last. If we can provide a positive role model for our children (instead of leaving them to learn from TV or their peers, or a stressed-out, overworked teacher), it is worth so much more than a fleeting annual salary!
But, I doubt this viewpoint will ever be popular in marketing campaigns. So you and I will happily tell this truth from the margins of our society! :)