Homemaker on birth cert but actually still employed

[BubblegumTulips]

My DH went to register our baby's birth today and he gave my occupation as homemaker, as that's what I will be now. However I have not yet handed in my notice at work, because I am being cheeky and holding out for some accrued annual leave pay in about 8 months time. This is the only reason I've not officially resigned yet (it will get me about £2k just because of how the leave year falls). I don't mind my occupation being "homemaker" on the certificate, but is it actually legal? Given that it's a legal document and actually I am employed at the moment. Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but I don't want any problems when we come to apply for child benefit etc... Anyone know?

[dennisdonut]

It doesn’t matter

[WingingItWithTwo]

I did it with my first, I stuttered when the registrar asked for the same reason and he was like shalI just put homemaker. That was nearly three years ago, I now am I full time homemaker but no one ever questioned it.

[ArnoldBee]

I really wouldn't worry. My mums place of birth was wrong on mine. Made sure it was correct for her death certificate though.

[DropYourSword]

I recently made a will and they explained to me why they ask for professions. It’s fairly antiquated I that it’s simply another way of identifying the correct person. In this day and age it’s not really relevant any more. It’s entirely inconsequential- apart from obviously it might be bugging you.

[BlueHarry]

I don't think it matters from a legal point of view, but it would bother me.

[catspyjamas123]

Personally it would massively bother me that I had a job and yet my husband had gone along and described me a a homemaker. It smacks of the little woman being put in her place by the patriarchy. Still, if it doesn’t bother you....

[bookmum08]

I originally had me down as 'retail worker' even though it had been two years since I gave up work. I regretted it as I didn't want that to be how I am defined. It was my sucky boring job that paid me money. Doesn't make me Who I Am. We got married when our daughter was almost 4. You can redo the birth certificate to show the marriage (and legally make her 'legitimate'). I asked if I could change my job description and I could. I am now listed as Homemaker. Old fashioned? Yeah a bit. But I prefer it.
I have always disliked how people are often defined by their job when it is just a job and nothing to do with what is actually important in their lives.

[ColdCottage]

Surely you put down your career not current situation as that is mother for most women with a baby up to 6 weeks old.

I see it more of something future generations will look back and see when they research family trees.

[TillyTheTiger]

Legally I don't think it matters. DH did the opposite with me when he registered DD's birth and put my occupation as '[industry] manager' even though I've been a SAHM since having DS 3 years ago. I'll be going back to it once DD is in preschool so it's not inaccurate really, it's still my profession even if I'm not in current employment.

[catspyjamas123]

The fact you had a boring job that didn’t define you is part of who you are!! Isn’t everyone a homemaker? I mean everyone who has a home, at least? Cooking, washing and scrubbing the loo doesn’t define me! Its just basic stuff I have to do. In the past there was no space for the mother to have an occupation. We were just wombs. The fact that we do now have the opportunity to describe a role outside the home is a victory. Best to make use of it.

[bookmum08]

Not everyone has a 'career' though. For the census next year I am thinking of putting "Homemaker and mother of an asd child and Afol (adult fan of Lego) who builds models to display at shows". Because if the government need to know what people are doing with their lives and future folks using it to study history then that is how I would prefer to be remembered.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I originally had me down as 'retail worker' even though it had been two years since I gave up work. I regretted it as I didn't want that to be how I am defined. It was my sucky boring job that paid me money. Doesn't make me Who I Am.

The form asks for your occupation, not a definition of your inner essence...

[WelcometoCranford]

I put student on mine as that was my occupation at the time. It's not my occupation now but that was then. If my ex had registered the birth (which he couldn't as we weren't married/he didn't attend the birth), I dread to think what he would have given as my occupation .

[Imok]

When my dcs were born, there wasn't even a space in the certificate for the mother's occupation! My Dh actually registered both our dcs and insisted that they include my occupation, so my dcs certificates have my name etc followed by my occupation in brackets.
I'm not sure that there is any 'legal' comeback, but I understand that you would want it to be correct. Also, if any of your descendants ever wanted to research their family tree, it would be extra, interesting information for them. Not convinced it has any real value beyond that.

[bookmum08]

I suppose I seem to have a different view from most of you. I just don't like people always having to be defined (on forms etc) by the job they happen to be doing at that particular time - men included.
Anyway no one checks on what you put. You could put anything really. Infact my husband has his job title as his ("day services co ordinater") which most people won't have a clue what that is and in what environment he works.

[catspyjamas123]

The purpose of asking for occupation on the census is so the stats can be used to plan all sorts of things - public transport springs to mind. Most people do jobs for work, some people call it a career and some don’t. They are all occupations. Yes, it isn’t your inner essence but often it’s a skill that others don’t have and - more to the point - it’s the question they are asking! We can all cook dinner, change nappies and provide moral support - with differing levels of success. Women have strived to be more than just domestic accessories.

I won’t have a husband to fall back on any more and anyway I have never defined myself as a homemaker. Yet strangely I am able to support my two children single handedly, one with additional needs. The house gets cleaned, the meals get cooked, the clothes get washed and in addition I have an occupation that brings in an income to support us all.

[catspyjamas123]

I don’t have....not won’t have. Autocorrect strikes again!

[Umberellaellaella]

Did you not also go along to the registering?

[emilybrontescorsett]

If would be annoyed y that.
Does your dh have A brain?
Would he be happy to be

[bluebluezoo]

It was my sucky boring job that paid me money. Doesn't make me Who I Am

Why is homemaker any better? That does define you? Personally i think cooking, cleaning and childcare for a man is a pretty sucky job that doesn’t pay me money.

I am more defined by my job than i am by my marital status and my ability to look after a man and children. I always think domestic labels reduces me to a background entity just there to meet a man’s purpose- make his home and bear his children.

Would a man ever put homemaker on a legal document?

[emilybrontescorsett]

Posted too soon.
Would your h be happy to be documented as homemaker?
I know several adults whose father registered them with a different name to the one They had agreed upon with their wife.
It wasn't a slight variation either but a completely different name.
Think Catherine Louise being the chosen name and dad registering g the child as Marianne Sarah.
I would be fuming.
It will always be documented that you weren't working and it is incorrect.

[DippingToes]

I'd ask for it to be changed to your actual career. I'd think of future generations researching their great grandmother's family tree expecting greatness...then oh.

[catspyjamas123]

I also certainly wouldn’t have let my ex-DH go and register the birth for me. I did the pushing FFS! We went together but if we couldn’t have I would have gone alone. This is not Gilead!

[emilybrontescorsett]

umberella married parents don't have to go together to register.

[emilybrontescorsett]

I'd also make him go and change it and let the registrar know that he is a dimwit who doesn't know his own wife's occupation.
I'd make him pay any necessary fee too.