Christl’s Résumé as a Mom
Her applications got no response, so I asked her to let me rewrite her resume.
By 1981, our son was ready to go to preschool to be with friends, and Christl was ready for a job that would allow her to get out of the house and be around adults.
Christl was so smart and disciplined that she could do almost anything. But in her free-spirited way, she had finished college without a degree, and, as a stay-at-home Mom by choice, she had no recent work experience — so her applications were getting no response.
I asked her to let me rewrite her resume.
Christl was reluctant at first, but I knew more about her than she realized. I studied her. Being a guy, I had started by studying the way the waves of her body flowed across a room. Soon she became the most interesting person in the world to me. I went on to study her everyday actions with our son, and around the house, in the kitchen, in her paintings, with me, and with her friends — where she displayed a mysterious kind of intelligence. She saw things I could not see; she had responses beyond what I could imagine. She knew what to do. She knew what to say. She knew things — things she clearly had not learned.
She was a Mom.
I wanted to write a resume for her that hinted at the intelligence that was at work as she went about those intricate, complex, magical acts involved in being a mother and making a home. I wanted people to recognize that experience as her kind of advanced degree.
I had no language for this — for the perception, analysis, planning, knowledge, skill, and the number of decisions that, moment by moment, went into the ordinary tasks in her ordinary day. It was huge. Even I could see that.
So, partly to draw attention to her application, but mainly to suggest the quality of mind she could bring to any job, I used the language of resumes to describe some of her actions as a mother. Plus, I wanted to hint at how much fun Christl was to be around.
Here is how the central part of her “Mom resume” came out.
Christl Grow — Professional Accomplishments as a Mom (A Selection)
— PROJECT MANAGEMENT. Managed multiple projects simultaneously, each with different requirements, components, timelines, and procedures; acquired necessary inputs, coordinated processes, and brought all projects to completion on deadline, with spices. — That is to say, I cooked dinner.
— PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING. Created, marketed, and sold items original to our product line, managed expenses and income, maintained records, cultivated customer satisfaction, and cleaned my brushes. — Sold two of my paintings.
— PRODUCT TESTING. Researched, adopted, provisioned, implemented, and evaluated a new recipe for pizza. — We liked it!
— TRAINING, IN-HOUSE. Supervised training of subordinate and colleague; identified deficiencies, acquired resources, implemented ongoing programs, taught skills, assessed outcomes, and rewarded achievement. — Taught my husband and son how to behave.
— TRAINING, EXTERNAL. Investigated training opportunities from outside vendors, executed cost-benefit analysis, performed site visits, interviewed suppliers, observed operations, evaluated programs, contracted for a trial period, and implemented participation. — Chose a preschool for our son.
— TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT. Adapted existing equipment to meet recurring and unpredictable transportation requirements; oversaw essential maintenance; coordinated with competing user. — Drove our son to play dates in our old Dodge Dart.
— CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Resolved conflicts among personnel emotionally agitated to the point of not being able to articulate problems or needs. — Supervised toddlers on the playground.
— WORK-LIFE BALANCE. Negotiated a working solution for the conflicting requirements of executive officers pulled between divergent responsibilities outside the facility and responsibilities to internal functions. — Talked with my husband about sex.
— ACQUISITIONS. Analyzed task requirements, budgetary and time constraints; redesigned the acquisition program for team nutritional requirements. — Got good at grocery shopping.
— MAINTENANCE, FACILITIES. Developed efficient methods for maintaining facilities at a level that provided functional service with reduced expenditure of time and resources. — Decided to clean house less often.
— MAINTENANCE, EQUIPMENT. Identified problems in maintenance, researched them, acquired supplies, performed repairs, and reintegrated the reconstituted items into the clothing drawer. — Sewed up holes in my sweaters.
— MAINTENANCE, GROUNDS. Authorized maintenance in the perimeter of the facility, delegated tasks, monitored performance, inspected outcomes, scrutinized problem areas, ensured quality control, enforced standards, and kissed him when he finished. — Got my husband to mow the lawn.
— PUBLICATIONS. Collaborated on illustrated publications; supervised others in the production of documentation to publicize their ongoing assessment of growth opportunities in their current positions; brought crayons. — Taught little kids how to make illustrated books.
— PERSONNEL. Designed and implemented ceremonies to acknowledge associates; showcased achievements and accomplishemnts; celebrated years in service; selected outside participants; distributed premiums; led commemorative activities; provided refreshments; lit candles, sang songs, and wore funny hats. — Gave birthday parties.
— HIRING. Acquired expert assistance on an as-needed basis, negotiated rates, secured appointments, interviewed candidates, set performance standards, delivered compensation, and drove her home afterward. — Hired a baby-sitter.
— BRANDING. Designed a corporate brand, acquired material, and implemented it through two-thirds of the company. — Dressed myself and our son nicely; did the best I could with my husband.
— HEALTH CARE. Diagnosed health problems, compared options, consulted experts, explored alternatives, acquired medications, administered treatment; provided nursing, monitoring, and psychological services; kept my team informed, authorized resumption as conditions improved, and made chicken soup. — Nursed our son through a bad cold.
— CORPORATE CULTURE. Maintained collegial relations with co-executive; compared goals; coordinated timelines; scheduled regular consultations; discussed problems and progress; practiced active listening; responded to unscheduled requests for hugs. — Talked with my husband, every day.
The new resume immediately got interviews, and soon she had a part-time job that allowed her to work around our son’s preschool schedule.
After a marriage that filled 42 years with life, Christl Kaserer Grow died February 15, 2021, three weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 76. Read more about her in “Home Birth, Home Death,” “At the Nude Beach in Vienna,” “Christl and the Icon Panties,” “A Myth that Guided Christl’s Life.”
