Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Taking Care of Business

One of the things that I struggle with being a mom is how to take care of myself. It’s so cliché-sounding but after taking care of the Babes, some days I am too tired to do anything for myself. However, it’s also clichéd-sounding that I have to put the oxygen mask on myself before putting on my Babes’ because how good will I be if I am lying in a heap unable to breathe? All clichéd, but all true (at least for me).

With my first, I totally didn’t get this. I thought that if I was tired, I should just sleep or watch TV or relax. All of that is good, but I slept A LOT because I was always tired. In retrospect, I probably had PPD or even PTSD. Either way, I did learn that doing something for me that wasn’t baby related or sleeping also fills the tank. With my second, I get this. Sometimes I forgo a nap or going to bed early because I like that feeling of filling my tank for the next day.

Last night was one of those nights where I was so tired, but I pushed on to do something I wanted to do. I went to a new writer’s group with some new writer friends. It was great! I feel like this group was a good match. When I told them I blogged, I braced myself for the eye roll, the blank stare, or the back-handed compliment of “Oh I wish I had time to blog, but I am too busy. It must be nice to have that kind of time.” No, these people got it! We may blog for different reasons, but they didn’t fluff it off like I was an idiot. The moderator was very good, and I feel like there are things I could learn from these people. I feel the more groups like this that I attend and the more blogging that I do, I am really, truly embarking on a new career. In fact, it really hit home for me when the moderator said something along the lines of me starting a new career and how I should make sure that I ask my husband for help to make my writing a priority. I don’t know why it took a stranger to say something like that to me to finally solidify the feeling of starting a new career, but it did. And it felt awesome!

I also feel that when I have been taking time to write and giving myself a night off from the bedtime grind, I feel like I am a happier and have more patience which makes the Babes happy which then makes everyone happy. So I think I am going to shift my priority on this whole writing thing from “a want to” to “a need to.”

So there, Friends, I am taking care of business!

And for those who were wondering if I finished my story, I did! It feels so good to say that, too! For the next two weeks, I am going to write my query letters and get everything in order to send it out. Yeaa!

12 comments:

Wendi said...

Congrats! And good luck with the story!

Anonymous said...

YAY! I hear you on all levels of that post. You will be happier and so will they if you get time to write.

I know that blogging takes up my free time that I could be doing other things, but it makes me so happy and it is also showing my girls perserverence and work ethic, so I am teaching them without even knowing it!

Kim Murray said...

Good luck on your story!

Zoe said...

Awesome Erin!

Bossy Betty said...

I totally understand and know that you have to take care of yourself and your creative needs. Remember, when mama ain't happy....

Beverly@Beverly's Back Porch said...

You are certainly heading in the right direction, just add one more step, "I want to be", I need to be", I'm going to be". Good Luck!

~Laura said...

That is awesome! Good for you. This is something that I struggle with constantly and I think you summed it up perfectly. If we do take the time and move beyond the tired, the rewards in how you feel are plentiful. Impressive that you finished your story. I hope you give us a flavor of it!

Wendy @RunningonMTT said...

Awesome - I think we mom's always put ourselves last or worse yet feel guilty if we in fact choose to take time for ourselves and that is wrong.

We need to be happy and "full" to be a better, mom, spouse, friend, etc., etc., I too have to realize this way back when and If I choose to go on a run before the kitchen is clean so be it...because I'll come back and clean that kitchen like nobody's business once I'm recharged!

Looking forward to hearing your story!

Anonymous said...

YAY! Me time = necessity! And I havent' forgotten about the piece you sent me. I'll get it back to you this weekend.

Unknown said...

Yea for you! I know what you mean about not being motivated to go out when you are super tired. But sometimes it's the best thing you can do!!
Yay for the story...good luck, my friend!

pthsmonkey said...

I am so glad you finished your story! That is awesome! AWESOME WOO! I am glad you took the time to do that. Congrats!

Aunt Becky said...

You have to do it for yourself, because dammit! You matter too!