Thoughts Before Listen To Your Mother Show

 This is it.  Two more days until show time.

Two! More! Days!

I am so excited to be a part of Detroit’s first cast of Listen to Your Mother.  I have said this many times, but it has been a dream of mine to be in a Listen to Your Mother Show ever since I heard about it at BlogHer.  It is surreal to know it will be coming true in just a few short days.

As much as I am excited, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

This confuses some people.  “Erin,” they say, “but you have been on TV with Live in the D.  You have spoken at conferences and in front of classrooms filled with students.  What do you have to be nervous about?”

All of this is 100% true.  This year I have gained a lot of experience talking in front of groups.  

I’ve chitchatted about whether alcohol should be permitted at high school prom parties and whether schools should hand out condoms.

I have talked about the importance of using images when building your personal brand at the Rochester Writers' Conference.

And believe me, I was nervous about all of that, too.

But there is something inherently different about sharing a personal story that is about a raw, emotional time in my life that I kept pretty private.  There are a few more emotions bubbling up rather than just hoping I don’t say the “F” word on TV.

Maybe you are wondering why I would choose to talk about such a sensitive issue. 

Sometimes I wonder that, too, and all I can say is that it just kind of poured out of me.  The words could not stay in any longer.  They had to come out.

When I start to get really nervous, I remember the look of compassion, not judgment, in the producers’ eyes.  I remember feeling supported by the other cast mates at the readings.

And maybe, just maybe, my story will help someone else.

If you are coming, please consider helping our sponsor, Alternative for Girls, by donating these items:

bottles
sippy cups
onesies
receiving blankets
infant/toddler socks
pacifiers

 I hope to see you at the show.  There are tickets still available (but not too many since we are almost sold out)!