Occupational Identity Crisis

While registering for a doctor's appointment I had a few weeks ago, the receptionist asked me my occupation. For some reason, without hesitation, I told her that I am a stay-at-home mom. The last time I was asked this question was when my husband and I were getting our marriage license. At that point, I told the clerk that I was an attorney. Since then, I have had at least two other conversations pertaining to my employment status. When a personal banker noticed that I did not have a job title associated with my account, he stumbled over the fact that he'd almost said I was unemployed and instead referred to me as a 'household manager.' Another doctor asked me if I was working and when I told him I take care of my daughter, he asked how old she was and then commented, 'So you do work as an attorney then!'

The difficulty in defining my occupation has become all the more difficult now that I accepted a job with the organization I've been volunteering for for the past few months. The hours are incredibly flexible, so I can work as much or as little as I want, provided that I am still providing competent representation to my clients. So does that mean I am attorney on the days I am in the office and a mom on every other day? Or am I an attorney in the same way that I am always a mom? How much can a job define who we are as people? I've said before that I feel there is a sense of pride associated with receiving a paycheck, but I'm coming to realize that there can be just as much pride in the work involved in raising a child. After all, it is the toughest job in the world.