DEAR ABBY: I would like to acknowledge all mothers on this Mother's Day. It astounds me that motherhood remains one of the least respected occupations in our society. Mothers are on call 24/7, and their job encompasses more professions than any other I can think of.
My mother excelled in many roles, including plumber, porter and, at times, platoon sergeant. To get a snapshot of her career, I created the following job description that ranges from A to Z:
-- Accountant
-- Baker
-- Coach
-- Dressmaker
-- Electrician
-- Financial adviser
-- Grief counselor
-- Health-care practitioner
-- Interior decorator
-- Judge
-- Kitchen Manager
-- Lender
-- Mediator
-- Nutritionist
-- Office clerk
-- Psychic
-- Quartermaster
-- Restaurateur
-- Supervisor
-- Taxi driver
-- Underwriter
-- Victim's rights advocate
-- Weightlifter
-- X-ray vision expert (OK, but for years I THOUGHT she had it!)
-- Yard maintenance assistant
-- Zookeeper
If you print this, please do so in honor of my mother, Barbara Irgens. Thank you, Mom, for choosing to be one! -- LOVE, HEIDI
DEAR HEIDI: Motherhood from A to Z. I love it! I'm pleased to print your job description, knowing mothers and children of every age will relate to it.
Happy Mother's Day to birth mothers, adoptive and foster mothers, and stepmothers everywhere -- and especially to my own beautiful mother, Pauline Phillips, in Minneapolis.