Connor and I had a relatively low-key day today, though we did end up spending a good portion of the morning touring various pharmacies in search of one with his seizure medications in stock. The pharmacy we originally had it called into didn't have any in stock, and they transferred the prescription at our request to another pharmacy across town who supposedly had it. Turns out when we got there that they'd transferred the wrong prescription, so we ended up having both prescriptions transferred to a third pharmacy in a town near us, which is where we actually got them filled. Because of the recent changes to Connor's medication we were quickly getting low on our current stock, and Connor's seizure meds are not something I want to run out of. But I finally came home with that paper bag in hand, so the crisis has been averted.
At one of the pharmacies, while sitting and waiting, I made small talk with a woman about my age, dressed in a business suit and on her lunch break. We were having a relatively nice conversation, until she asked me "So what do you do?" As usual I had absolutely no idea how to answer her. Writer? Totally pretentious and more of a hobby. "Caretaker?" Sounds less like I'm a mom and more like I actually get paid to take care of Connor. House Wife? Sounds like I vacuum the house in high heels and pearls. Stay-At-Home Mother? Accurate, but woefully inadequate.
Take today. Since I spent four hours running around town, I'm now behind on my to-do list as far as Connor's care goes. Tomorrow I need to fax or drive in a copy of Connor's IEP to his therapy center's office, make a follow-up call to the audiology department, place the order for next month's g-tube supplies, check a referral with our insurance company and schedule appointments with two of the little guy's specialists.
This is why I don't work-- because managing Connor's care entails way, way more than just feeding him and playing with him and cleaning him and driving him around to various appointments. And I have no idea how to cram everything that I do in a day into a job title.
How do you all answer this question?
~Jess
Posts
4 years ago
8 comments:
I think you need something with "engineer" in the title. I don't think "domestic engineer" will cut it due to your rather extensive, recently acquired medical knowledge. At least "engineer" would tip people off to the big words and complicated subject matters that would follow should they ask you to elaborate. :)
You could call yourself a "Critical care engineer." Or Critical care coordinator for my child with special medical needs. I used to tell people something like that when nik was younger, still on O2, in a specialized mobility system, etc. I'd then smile and tell them that coordinating all of his care, equipment and supplies was a full time job.
Now that he's outgrown those needs, I tell people I'm a teacher; I am since we've been homeschooling. Not sure what I'll become when we send him back to school in the fall! LOL
I never know what to say!
-j o'c
I would go with Critical Care coordinating engineer
I think you could take this moms comeback and adapt it to your situation, and really give someone pause to think!
Julie
First thing that came to mind is Family Care Manager but I agree with Kristin and Niksmom that the word engineer seems to be needed. How about Family Critical Care Engineer or FCCE for short!
I love Julie's link! I never know what to say- but luckily, in our area, there are a LOT of stay-at-home moms. I'm less of a rarity out here. Half the time I catch myself saying, "I just stay at home."
As if the five (soon to be three) speech therapy sessions per week, myriad trips to Buffalo for hearing and medical appointments, and full time child-enrichment activities fit into the word "just."
Thanks, everybody!
The next time somebody asks, I'll have a good answer!
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