A Research Associate, Not Just a Mom

I have always known I was special. Here is the proof. A woman named Emily was renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. She was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupations. She hesitated for awhile. She was 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 Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' 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 (the whole darned 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 triumphant! 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 mother." 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 "Associate Research Assistants." Yep, I like the title of "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations"........

Our Dear Leecia's 7th Birthday

June 2013, Thailand. Happy 7th Birthday to our dear Leecia.

The Concrete Angel

She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace, oh

The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

 

Our Dear Leecia's 6th Birthday

Father, thank You for my daughter, for her intelligence, hard work, good health, grace and beauty.

Thank You that she can go to school. I pray that You will be with her every time, and pour out Your blessing on her. Please fill her with Your Holy Spirit. Help her to know You and trust You, and to show Your love and truth to other people. Please fill her life with love, joy, peace, hope and purpose.

Please give her grace to be honest and truthful, loving and kind and wise, faithful to You and righteous. May You be pleased with the way she lives. Please keep her safe. Please protect her body, soul, mind and spirit.

Please bless and guide all of her relationships. May she be a blessing to others, and may others be a blessing to her.

Please bless her school work. Help her to care, work hard, think clearly, learn, understand and remember.

Amen.

The Gift of All Those Perfectly Ordinary Days

Time flies too fast for our own comfort. They were only little sleeping babies then tenderly cradled in our arms. The next time we know, they are crawling, jumping, running and trying the threshold of our patience and wits. Ahh, the joys of parenthood.

When we look at a patch of dandelions, we see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over our yards.
Our kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When we look at an old drunk and he smiles at us, we see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and we look away.
Our kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When we hear music we love, we  know we can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so we sit self-consciously and listen.
Our kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When we feel wind on our faces, we brace myself against it. We feel it messing up our hair and pulling us back when we walk.
Our kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When we pray, we say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
Our kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When we see a mud puddle we step around it. We see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.
Our kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

We wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? 

No wonder God loves the little children so much.

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day we may look back and realize they were the big things.

Heaven's Rose Garden

Love your Moms while you still have her around. She's the very glue and cement that binds every family, the divine intervention between you and God and your eternal blessing that even when she's gone, you will feel loved and cared for. 6 years now since our Mommy Luz joined our creator. Thank you for everything Mommy. We love you forever.

Prayer of a Mother and a Wife

Doi Inthanon Chiang Mai City

Compassionate and loving God, thank you for giving me the opportunity and the challenge of being a mother. 
I know that this is not an easy task -  to rear a child and build a home. 

Ancient Siam

Please help me when life seems too difficult, when I lose my patience, understanding and generosity toward my husband and my child. 

Loha Prasat

Grant me the spirit of love, peace and joy so that when I am doing my daily routine, though heavy they may be, these virtues may give me the strength to lighten my day.

Wat Yannawa

Help me to be always cheerful and serene so that my child and husband may look forward to coming home again after school and after the day's work.

Hua LamPhong

Dear God, my constant prayer is my concern for my child. 


That she may become successful in life, able to serve her countrymen, but more importantly that she may grow up to be Your faithful child. 


Amen.







- Liezel

Muang Boran