Happy Mothers Day to you—if that term fits your job description. Although, according to a recent poll, the status of being a mum is believed to have a negative affect on your job.

More Australian women believe motherhood is affecting their career. The Motherhood Today Poll has found that 61 per-cent of women believe motherhood has compromised their occupation. Five years ago, only 32 per-cent made that claim.

Two-thirds of Australian women feel their careers are jeopardised by motherhood. I’m sure very few of those polled would say their child is an unwanted intrusion into their lives and professions. That statistic is probably a statement of reality: a workplace career will be interrupted as a result of bearing a child. But when I first read these figures I couldn’t help wonder if something was missing from the equation.

That motherhood itself is a career.

The Macquarie Dictionary defines a career as, I quote, ‘a general course of action or progress of a person through life,’ or ‘an occupation, profession, etc, followed as one’s lifework.’

Motherhood fits both descriptions. And the demands of this career path rivals many a career:

Mum’s have to be strategic planners: they have a vision of the kind of people they’d like their children to become, set short, medium and long-range goals to help them get there, and make risky educational, recreational and social decisions along the way.

Mum’s have to be resource managers: my time-management skills pail into insignificance compared to the mother of three who drops Johnny off to high school, Jimmy to primary school and takes Jenny to playgroup after packing three lunches, signing two forms and hanging out three loads of washing. Then there’s soccer practice, piano lessons and ballet classes on weekends. Financial budgets are usually tight yet the needs get met and a few of the wants are fulfilled too. Some Mums work a second job to supplement the family income so that the vision can be realised. Of course, Dad’s there to help as well. But somehow it’s normally Mum who possesses the near miraculous skill of making sure there’s always enough food in the pantry, even with unexpected guests, and enough energy left over to listen and offer advice to their direct reports at the end of the day. They are resource managers indeed.

And Mum’s have to be workplace counsellors: offering dispute resolution and negotiation services on a daily basis. And that’s just for their husbands!

Motherhood over the years requires professional development and skills acquisition. It’s one of the few careers with a vomit-stained T-shirt as part of its corporate uniform. And while so many professionals strain to find an ounce of meaning in their jobs, the career of motherhood can rightly claim to shape tomorrow’s generation and affect the social stability of a nation.

Yes, I believe motherhood is a career in itself. And to the thousands working as Directors of their own Department of Family Affairs, we honour you today.