So, I was torn. On the horns of a dilemma. But then it solved itself and I’m almost disappointed.

A mass email to parents went out from my son’s school, asking for volunteer speakers for career day. For the first four years we were in this district, I always volunteered and would take some hands-on activities, and they were always well-received by the students and the teachers. But then last year — the manchild’s first year in junior high — I volunteered within a couple of hours of that email going out, and quickly heard back from the guidance counselor: “Thanks, but we have enough volunteers!”

And then for weeks after, there were further emails from the principal saying “We don’t have enough volunteers!”

So, I mean, to me that said the guidance counselor looked at my description of my job, and thought, “Ew, yarn, boooooring.” And at first I was disappointed and maybe even a little indignant. And then I was self-critical (but constructively). I spent a bunch of time thinking about… lots of stuff. Like how to describe what I do so that people are less disbelieving that it’s a career, or how to sound at least as interesting to a junior high guidance counselor as “I’m a hairstylist” and “I’m an insurance agent.” And for the past year, I’ve gone back and forth in my mind about those questions, and whether or not I’d volunteer again this year, or just blow it off.

So here I was this morning, looking at the email requesting volunteers, trying to decide… when I actually looked at the date for career day, and realized I’ll be out of town. Working. At my career. Which on the one hand, is terrific validation for the fact that this IS a career, but on the other hand, means I definitely don’t get to do battle with apparently-entrenched guidance-counselor disrespect for whatever it is he thinks I do. So, dang. Like I say, totally mixed feelings.

But still, I think there’s a lot that’s relevant to career day discussion — because I’m self-employed, and have to hustle, and I created my own job, you know? So maybe I’ll ponder it all again next year, with the boy in high school. Or maybe not. So I guess I’m still torn.