Why is it that children love garbage men?
The LittlePages will yell and run to watch the spectacle of our garbage and recycling being taken away. They cheer when one of the workers notices them and waves, or even better honks the horn.
Why is it that as adults we see this as the lowliest of jobs? What changes? Why are these childhood heroes seen as less than successful by their parents. Every boy has a moment when he wants to grow up to be a garbage man. I’m sure there aren’t many parents who echo that wish.
Why not? It’s a good job, though very, very difficult. It would provide a steady income, though it offers physical risks. The hours are good, though the temperature changes where we live would make it uncomfortable for large portions of the year. These men and women provide an important service, guarding our health and welfare. Why do adult not praise such workers?
I can’t help feeling there’s some deep theological idea hidden in these questions. I’m not sure what it is, but it sure has me thinking.
Related posts:
I found parallels here to the little girl’s dream to be a mommy. Except then when we get here and someone says “so what do you do?” we answer “Oh, I’m JUST a housewife”. Since when did that become the least appreciated, least desireable occupation for women? How many times have you been asked (as I have) “But will you let your girls go to University?” and then they are shocked to find that I did go to University but chose to not directly use my (almost completed) degree buy chose to stay home instead. What? An educated housewife? What? An educated Garbage man? What will they think of next?
That’s what I didn’t see, Barbara. I didn’t see myself in this picture. I am struggling right now with the importance of my position in life and I think I subconsciously made that connection without knowing it!
Why is it that no one wants to be a “just a housewife?” I love my job, but I hate the fact that everyone thinks I’m less than who I am because I’m not out there making it big.
Thank-you so much for linking those two!
I used to wonder if I so easily made the choice to stay at home because I didn’t have a fabulous career before I married and had kids. You know, all those nurses, teachers, ea’s, executives… they all have to decide whether or not to take their mat leave and then whether or not to go back. Those weren’t options for me. I worked at Tim Hortons before we got married, and trust me, the pull to go back was nil.
But then I don’t want to think I just fell in to this life path because I was incompetent at everything else. Surely it takes some skills to be a housewife? The lies in a mom’s head abound to be sure, and some days they are harder to ignore than others.
I KNOW it is hard work staying home and I KNOW some women do a better job at it than others. So I pray the Lord makes me the kind of lady who will persevere to do the hard work and to do it really well(I’m not so much there today unfortunately) and to not expect a whole lot of praise from man (except from maybe MY man!), because for the most part, the world just doesn’t get it.