I wonder how many of us would have applied for parenthood had we been given this job description? I dare say most of us would have at least given it a little more consideration first before jumping into the task!

This is not original with me; I’m not that clever, and I can’t remember the source or I would most certainly give you the reference and give acknowledgement where it is due.  But, I wanted to share it with you anyway because, while parenting is sometimes a daunting task and one that we often feel ill-equipped to handle, it is still the most blessed privilege anyone can be given.

Oh, and be sure to read all the way to the end!  Enjoy.

PARENT

Job Description

POSITION:

• Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
• Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
• Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
• Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
• Travel expenses not reimbursed.
• Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The rest of your life.
• Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
• Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
• Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
• Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks
• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, and suffer embarrassment the next.
• Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
• Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

• None
• Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

• None required, unfortunately.
• On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

• Get this!  You pay them!
• Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
• A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent – in turn you help financially as much as you can.
• When you die, you give them whatever is left.
• The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

• While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life, if you play your cards right.

**AND A FOOTNOTE**

THERE IS NO RETIREMENT – EVER!!!

 (If you are fortunate enough, you will become a grandparent.)