Monday, June 30, 2008

Sorry to Keep You Hanging

Posted by Mandy at 12:40 PM

So, I lied when I said I'd post pics of the house "tomorrow." My hubby keeps running off to work with the digital camera and I keep forgetting to load the pics onto the computer when he's home. Eventually, I will share the pictures.


To change the subject totally, I must take my hat off to all moms that work at home. I never could have imagined what a challenge it was! I have been slowly entering into the world of becoming a writer. Yeah, like a real one. I'm even possibly going to look into going to school for 2-4 years for an English or Journalism major once I find my niche in writing and what I want long term for myself. (possibly major in one, minor in the other?) If any of you have majored in these areas, give me some love and tell me what classes it would entail and what kind of work is necessary. None of these life changing things would happen until Samuel goes to Pre-K. So three years from now. (unless I find a great online course that transfers college credits to a college of my choice... we shall see.)


In the meantime, I am actually being published and getting paid for articles I have written. I am stunned to be honest. I've always been a "writer" at heart. As a little girl I had to have a journal from the time I could spell out words to form a sentence. I wrote down everything. My thoughts, what happened that day, my fears, and fictional stories to boot. I was probably the only teenager in high school to love those mandatory essays we had to write. For some reason, I find it exciting to get a topic that I know little about, research it to death, and write an article, essay, or story about it that makes total sense and is enlightening to someone that is in the dark on that topic like I was before I wrote about it. (and that, my friends, is a writing no-no. That sentence was much too long and wordy. Hey, this is my blog and I say it works here.)


This brings me to how hard it can be to be a mom and work at home at the same time. I REFUSE to be "that mom" that stays home with her kids but spends her entire day at the computer, cleaning house, or doing things totally not related to her children. When I start to think that my children would get more attention and more structured playtime at a daycare than here with me, I have a problem with it. So, I'm having to learn to balance all of this. It's new, and a challenge I'm ready to accept. So far, so good.


So, I suppose my best work title right now would simply be a freelance writer. It's great for me. I can do it in my own time, whenever I want, as long as I meet my deadlines. As I get published more and more, I hope to get more regular "jobs" instead of the "Hey, I need someone to write 10 articles by Friday!" gigs. I'm getting braver now and starting to write things to submit to big name magazines, and lesser known ones as well. I might even try my hand at writing for some newspapers. I'll never know if I don't try!


Isn't it strange how scary it is to just try? I have to keep reminding myself that I definitely won't get selected for a particular job if I don't apply. I hate the feeling of rejection. The only good thing about not trying, is you have zero chances of being turned down. But, you also never progress.


I've never had feelings like I have now in my adult life. All I've ever wanted before was to have children and be a mother. While that is still #1 on my list, I'm slowly creeping up there too. What do I want for me now? I feel complete in the parenting department. The stronger my urge to succeed as a writer becomes, the more I'm sure I'm done having babies. I'm praying for God to direct me to opportunities that will glorify him, not just me. (this is a very hard thing to pray AND MEAN for me, I admit.) Amazingly, the very first article I ever had purchased by a publisher was to a christian resource magazine and it was about overcoming low self-esteem. It's a little ironic that my self-esteem when writing that, about myself as a writer, was nil. But, God guided my words and helped me succeed! I pray he continues to guide me.


How weird to be embarking on a career... I never saw this day coming. It came from NO WHERE.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is absolutely wonderful!!Congrats to you!!

Brittany on Monday, 30 June, 2008 said...

Wow! That's so exciting! Good luck with everything!

Anonymous said...

You've got to link to the incredible article you wrote over at IP!

Brussels Chronicles on Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 said...

As an amateur writer myself (though I've never sold anything, I wrote many press releases in my day and have been dabbling at home -- I hope to become a novelist when I grow up -- haha -- I am 45 btw), Mandy, I can only encourage you ! You are doing a great job on the blog and I can tell your urge comes from deep within (not from no where as you say, no !)... so I'm fairly sure you'll find your niche indeed. Happy niching !

Amanda and Justin Dreyer on Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 said...

Sounds like the perfect job for you... Justin will be excited that you can spread the green movement too! Haha! Keep us updated... we would love to read more of your stuff!

Quiskaeya on Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 said...

I can see why you would embark on this endeavour. You truly have a gift with words! I haven't been reading your blog long, but I'm very impressed with your written talent.

Mom of these kids on Wednesday, 02 July, 2008 said...

Oh, that's great Mandy! Good for you to get your articles published...and paid!!

I could write a whole book of comments about working from home with your kids. I quit my job at the nursing home where I worked 4 days a week, to stay home with the kids and run a photography business. Man... that sucked me in FAST! For a while, I know I spend more time with them when I had the job away from home, then when I worked from home. It was horrible. I remember being up late one night working, after everyone else was in bed, and I sent Clay an e-mail, that I knew he would get 1st thing when he got to work. It said, "either we close this business, or you quit your job" And he called me that day to tell me he was leaving the bank. Then I wanted to throw up. LOL

Even though he does a lot of the work now, I still have to do enough of it, but luckily now, with us both home, we take turns who pays attention to the kids. I did tell him the other day though, for once, I just want to be a mom and their teacher...no other job but that.

I wish you the best, and I hope it never gets to the point that it is such a job that you hate it....like I have gotten with photography. Because, you are right....you are a mom, #1.

peony on Wednesday, 02 July, 2008 said...

Mandy, go for it! You already write so beautifully.

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