I’m a mommy of a three-and-a-half year old son. A full-time job. I am a public school teacher to thirty-two fourth graders. Another full-time job. I’m a wife to a man who sometimes requires the same coaxing, coaching, and cajoling skills as my son and students. A third full-time job. So, as a result, I don’t have one job title that fits. I wear too many hats, have too many responsibilities. I need the whole alphabet.
A Affection dispenser. Children need affection. Hugs and kisses, high-fives, shoulder rubs, pats on the head. My fourth-grade students are no less huggy than were my kindergarten students. I constantly remind my son that Mommies never run out of hugs and kisses.
B Bookkeeper. I am the chief bill-writer at home. The person who shops with coupons and decides if something should be purchased or is still “too expensive.” I am the personal ATM machine, always having a small stash of cash on hand.
C Chauffeur. Since my husband and I got our first car, I was, and am to this day, the designated driver in our family.
D Dietician. I am the chef at home (chef being used lightly. Some nights dinner is as gourmet as chicken nuggets and French fries.) But ultimately, what my family eats is my decision. In the classroom, I dole out “brain food”—the snacks I provide my students during testing. I ration out one Red Vine, a cupful of Goldfish crackers, or a small box of raisins.
E Educator. At home and at work. In academics, behaviors, social skills. Everything I say, everything I do is being watched by young eyes.
F Fun-provider. Kids always want to know if what we’ll be doing is fun. And of course, I tell them. I lie, sometimes, and tell them “Yes.” Because really, no kid wants to hear that recess is over, and it’s time to go inside and do something not-fun. So, I try to make lessons as fun as I can. I try to make teeth-brushing and face-washing as entertaining as possible for my son. (Songs and dances work wonders to persuade kids to do what you want them to do).
G Gardener. One of my favorite places at home is my back patio. A glider, a patio table and chairs, and plants. Impatiens, kalanchoe, and plants whose names I have forgotten. Our family garden has become my responsibility—to water, to weed, to cultivate.
H Historian. I am the record-keeper, the person who doesn’t just take the photos but prints them out, dates them, and stores them in photo albums. I update picture frames around our house with current family photos. I take pictures of my students, creating posters that share our field trip adventures, class parties, or science experiments.
I Interior decorator. I decide on the color paper for my bulletin boards. I decided to have a red-themed kitchen. I put out the holiday decorations, both at school and at home.
J Janitor. I have cleaned up urine (both my son’s and my student’s.) I have cleaned up vomit (both my son’s and my students’). I clean up spilled milk, stray pieces of paper, straw wrappers, paint spots in the sink, and fingerprints on the table.
K Kitchen hand. Cooking is just one aspect of my kitchen duties. Let’s not forget the preparations, the clean-up, the loading and unloading of the dishwasher. The inventory of kitchen cupboards before grocery shopping, the unloading of groceries, and the packing of lunches and snacks.
L Librarian. I have a deep love of books and have had since I was a kid and would enroll in the public library’s annual summer reading program. We were allowed to check out ten books; I’d start reading them in the car. It is a pleasure to introduce my son and my students to great books. Books that are just fun and silly to read. Books that make us think. Books that teach us. Each student receives books as gifts in December and June. My son receives books as gifts year-round, and the public library and bookstore are frequent stops for us.
