What does work mean to you? Such a boring, dragging you down kind of word, isn't it? Some people say, work is 'stressful'. But to some work is passion, fun, a very fortunate thing to have in life.

Last night Janvier and I were choosing his electives for his grade nine courses. He asked me of what I think he should choose and I said he should pick the courses that will help him on what he wants to be in life. Knowing what you want now will help you later on, I said.

I am a working mother of three boys. My 40 hours per week is solely dedicated to this company which I am proud of but I absolutely will not disclose. Parenthood is not easy single-handedly. My husband works in the far away city of Yellowknife and his physical absence makes motherhood a bit difficult than usual. But this living situation has turned me from a mom-who-did-not-own-an-agenda into a mom-who-has-to-do-list-on-four-calendars. I have 2 calendars at work, 1 in my kitchen and my handy dandy IPhone. I do things in advance as I remember them in advance. My thoughts are a constant repitition from what's for children's lunch, what to wear to work to what to cook for dinner. And of course there are those various thoughts hovering that fill up my daily to do list such as oh yeah I need to buy the kids milk, I have an appointment today at school yadi yadi yada...

Mothers have this extra load on their shoulders. Mothers who are also career women have double the extra load. They have work to do in their so called workplace and their so called homes. As a mom, I feel like a juggler. And I want to be the best juggler mommy I can be.

During my younger years I remember having high aspirations for myself and I don't recall that being a mother was one of them. I guess motherhood just happens. No woman 'aspire' to become a mother. At least I did not.

But I am a mother. A working mother. Martin Luther King said, if a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.

I guess in the end what matters most is that you take pride in whatever it is that you do. Aim to deliver your best everyday in all aspects of your daily life. Think positively that no matter how small you think your role is, it is still a very important role that contributes to the good of all.

I said to Janvier to make Drama 101 his first choice. It is a good way to express yourself creatively. He said I know you want me to be an actor, mommy.
Well, don't you?, I asked.
Yeah, well... But I don't want that life. That lifestyle is messed up.
So I said, you know what Janvier you have a point.

Janvier chose aviation, mechanics, music, photography, and drama as his top five courses. I bet he'll do well in all those. Whether he'll end up an aviator, mechanic or an actor, I just hope he will be doing something that he loves to do ^_^ Work is a lot more fun if you love it. And if you love it, you give all your best to deliver a great job.




Janvier on his Grade 8 graduation