Mothers Do the Toughest and Yet the Most Important Job in the World

Reflection for Mothers’ Day

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, May 11, 2014

This morning I am going to share with you a Youtube video forwarded to me by my Nigerian friend  Lydia Valch. It’s titled “The world’s most toughest job.” It is about a group of guys who created a fake job and posted it online and in newspapers. Several young men and women applied for the job. Then a real interview was held via camera. This is how the interview went: 

Interviewer: The job you are applying for is not just a job, but probably the most important job. The title of this job is Director of Operations, but it’s really so much more than that. The responsibilities and requirements are so much extensive. Now, the first requirement for the job is mobility. This job requires that you do your work standing up most or really all the time, you must be constantly on your feet, constantly bending over, constantly exerting yourself, high level of stamina. 

(The names of the candidates that applied for this job were not given, but I will assign names to each of them for a better understanding and appreciation of what happened. )

When he said this, John said, “Oh, Oh okay!” with his mouth wide open and still speechless. 

Mary said, “That’s a lot.” 

Elizabeth asked, “For how many hours?” 

Interviewer replied, “135 hours, unlimited hours a week, basically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” 

David asked, “I am sure one will have the chance to sit down from time to time?” 

Interviewer said, “You mean like a break?” 

David said: “Yeah!” 

Interviewer said: “Oh No, there are no breaks available.” 

Lucy asked: “Is that even legal?” 

Interviewer:  “Of course, yeah.” 

Juliet asked: “Does it mean there will be no lunch?” 

Interviewer said:  “You can have your lunch, but it is only when your associate is done eating their lunch.” 

After that, there was a deep pause. 

Joseph broke the silence and said: “Oh, I think that’s a little intense.” 

Elizabeth replied: “No, that’s crazy.” 

After that, one of the interviewer shocked the candidates even further by announcing: 

Interviewer: “Along with excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills, you must also have a degree and expertise in medicine, finance and culinary arts. You must be able to wear several hats. Your associate needs constant attention. Sometimes, you may have to stay with the associate through all the night. You must be able to work in a chaotic environment, if you had a life, we ask you to give it up. No vacation, in fact during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and Holidays, the workload will go up and we demand that. And you must do all these with a happy disposition.” 

Mary said, “Ah, that’s almost cruel, that’s a very very sick twisted joke.” 

Francis then asked: “Uumh, what happens during the time to sleep?” 

Interviewer quickly replied, “Oh, no time to sleep.”  

Charles added: “That’s encompassing.” 

Interviewer replied, “That’s exactly right.” 

Juliet asked, (so one will do this) “for 365 days a year?” 

Interviewer: “Yeah.” 

Everyone was Shocked and baffled. 

Juliet said again: “No, that’s inhumane.” 

Elizabeth said while scratching her neck: “That’s insane.” 

Interviewer said: “The meaningful connections you make, the feelings you get helping your associate are immeasurable.” 

Then another Interviewer announced:  “By the way, this position is going to pay absolutely nothing. There will be no pay for this job.”

Taken aback, one of the male candidates, Francis said:  “Excuse me..?” 

Juliet with grief and  shaking her head added: “No oh! No body is gonna do that for free, No oh!” 

Interviewer asked them: “What if I tell you that someone currently holds this position right now.” 

All candidates shouted: “Who?” 

Interviewer said: “There are billions of people, actually holding this position.” 

Mary asked: “Who?” 

To this question, the Interviewer said:  “Moms! Moms!”  They meet every requirements, don’t they?”

Then each of the candidates started saying: “That’s awesome.” “Mothers are the best. “Now, I am thinking about my mom.” Some of them started shedding tears.  

Mothers, thank you so much for everything you do. Some children may not appreciate you and your work, but remember that your job is the most important job in the world. Thank you mothers for everything you have done and for everything you are doing. We love you. You have been there for your children through thick and thin. You're awesome! You do the world’s toughest and yet the world’s most important job.  

Happy Mothers’ Day!