I just read "I Am A Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson and LOVED it! It's a quick read--easy to pick up and read during 5 minute (okay, 15 minute) bathroom breaks. Jane was a successful host on the Early Show and news anchor, traveling around the world interviewing political leaders, successful people, famous people, etc. She walked away from all of that when she became a mother, and decided to be a stay-at-home mom. I loved the honesty and candor of her book about the challenges of being a stay-at-home mom, but the fact that she never loses sight of the importance of what she is doing and how she is shaping her children.
She tells of one interview she did with Phyllis Diller (a famous comedian) who shows her her huge shoe collection and tells the story of each pair of shoes, who she performed with, what lessons she learned while wearing those shoes, why she loved each pair of shoes. Jane had gone to the interview with preconceived notions about Phyllis and her over-the-top comedy and personality, and had judged her. During the interview she found a real soul mate and made a friend for life, realizing her prior judgement was way off. Her point was that all of us moms, stay-at-home, working, single, in school, whatever our various roles may be, need to stick together. We are all doing the best we individually can and need to give others the benefit of the doubt, not judge, but love and support all of the other mothers around us. Until we have walked in another's shoes, we really don't know enough to judge.
I have been guilty of saying, "I'm just a mom," when asked what I do. I've never meant it in a derrogatory way, but it has popped out of my mouth that way before I could stop it. I boldly declare to the world that I AM A MOTHER--BEST JOB IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!! And I wouldn't trade it for a thing.