What's a homemaker?

Ok, so this post is not going to be all in depth and praiseworthy of the definition of a homemaker because seriously I still have not fulfilled my calling to even a quarter of it's potential. I simply wanted to share something with you all I found funny, yet interesting and thought provoking.

KJ's little brother, who's 20, is living with us for the summer break from college. He attends UWF in Pensacola but was having some financial issues so we suggested he stay with us while we help him sort through and learn some financial wisdom ;)

Anyway, his first task was to find a job here since his old job was almost an hour away now. As he was filling out applications, he put me as a reference and asked me what my job was. I told him "homemaker" (I assumed he simply did not know what to choose between SAHM, Housewife, Homemaker, etc.) He said "No, what's your job title? You know, your computer job?" As most of you know, I held a full time job before I had children and it was in the Technology Industry. I laughed and said "my job is now homemaker, my job was a Network Support Technician but I am not one anymore". "He said, I know but I thought that was your career?" I said "yes, it was my career but it's not anymore."

It seems he thinks at some point I will return to my career, after all, isn't that what's most important? Why am I wasting my hard earned skills here at home? << insert sarcasm here

Later on, Kyle came back and told me this story: He was filling out more applications online at his friend Daniel's house and one of the options to choose for a past job was "homemaker", he called his friend over and asked him "Hey Daniel, what's a homemaker?". He obviously had recently learned the meaning of the word but was curious what Daniel's response would be. Daniel said "I don't know, I guess like a construction worker or someone who builds houses." I thought that was pretty funny.

As I'm writing this I realize if I looked at my job as a homemaker the same way I regarded my "career", I'd be much happier. If I considered my job of training children, cooking food, mopping floors, folding laundry, changing sheets, washing dishes, vacuuming, etc, a Career, I would be much better at it. If I could apply the same drive, motivation, hard work, perseverance that I once applied to the paid job I held before, my whole family would benefit so much more.