the best job

I've had many jobs.

First I was a counselor for little kids at Camp Maplewood. I was only ten years older than the four-year olds I was charged with supervising. 

I was a lifeguard at a local pool where I spent the summer of '67 listening to the Red Sox earn their way to the pennant, but then lose to St. Louis in the World Series.

I taught swimming one summer at a camp, and swam a mile every day I worked.

Then there was my filing job at my friend Gary's father's company. 

I worked at Continental Bank in Chicago, once thinking my goal in life was to be a loan officer.

I hired non-exempt employees as an HR recruiter for Blue Cross Blue Shield. The dress code there allowed claim adjusters to walk the floors in fluffy slippers.

My job as an Assistant Brand Manager at Gillette after business school was my first real job, and I loved it. There I met M, V, and Gail, all of whom are still big, important parts of my life. 

But I wanted to live in NYC so I moved for a job at Lever Brothers. That, too, put me in a creative, smart environment, where everyone was my age.  It was there I met my still very close friend Leslie.

Next was a conscious move to the media industry. I got my first big corner office at SImon & Schuster. Unfortunately though, I had nothing to do for the two years I was there. But I got a free gym membership and got in shape.

Then came CBS. There I became lifelong friends with J and recently reconnected with my boss who shares my name (and same spelling).

Next, I was VP of Marketing at CNBC, a job I loved and lost right after giving birth to Alexander.

I later worked on four soap operas for P&G Productions.

And then came Discovery, where I was head of Ad Sales Marketing. I had the best staff in the business; too bad the head of Ad Sales at the time and I were toxic together.

Sr. VP Packaging (one of those fancy titles that lacked substance) at a big media company came next. Great people, gorgeous corner office, but not enough responsibility.

And now I sell clothes at Saks. I've written enough about that.

But my best job of all has been, and always will be, being a mother to Alexander. 

24 years ago when I was pregnant, people told me how brave I was. Having a child by myself was not as common then. But I never thought of myself as brave, just lucky.   And I have never ever wavered from that view.

My son has given me more joy than I ever thought possible. He has kept me up nights with worry, too. But he's made me smile more, and appreciate the good in life, in ways no one else has.

He came home yesterday and just left. This morning he bought us both breakfast, and read me a card he wrote. As with all his cards, it made me laugh. But the sentiment made me proud. Proud that I have a child who is growing up to be a responsible and thoughtful adult. Proud that I have a child who can be affectionate and kind. Proud that we have a close relationship.

Being a mom can be a tough job. There is no pay;  the hours are long; and the responsibilities are immeasurable. There are times we'd like to quit and times we're under-valued. But there is absolutely nothing that is better! 

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Happy Mother's Day.