Fear in Writing: My resume, my kids

Today in Literary History

Today in Literary History...December 14, 1907: Rudyard Kipling receives the Nobel prize for literature, the first English-language writer to do so.ud

Thursday, October 15, 2009

My resume, my kids

I was accepted to every college to which I applied.
I had to remind myself of that yesterday as the rain poured and the children screamed and the clock ticked away in interminable seconds.

I lost twenty pounds this year.
My accomplishments kept me moving as I sliced vegetables between shifts of opening crayon boxes and retrieving dropped play-dough accessories.

I wrote my first short story and submitted it for judgement within six months of starting my writing career.
This as the tears mimicked the rain. It was the onions, I sware.

I am THE producer of News 14's live high school football show, four years running...and I don't even work there!
The last play-dough shape hit the ground, right next to the tenth crayon, and I was done. I can corral editors, photographers, directors, anchors, satellite techs, and associate producers for an adrenaline-rushed half-hour of TV, but I can't keep my kids in order while I fix dinner. Damn.

And then I laughed, because what else can you do? And they laughed, too.
They have no idea what my resume says. But when Mommy laughs I am their hero.

2 comments:

  1. Irony; not a fan? I've had exactly these same thoughts at one time or another. My kids didn't care that I had a University degree as they were painting their highchairs with Pablum. I learned to take a deep breath and know I was doing the right thing. Kids grow and you get part of your life back.

    I admire your drive. *applause for you!*

    Elspeth

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  2. I don't know if it's drive or inertia, or if those are the same thing.

    Drive=to move by force or compulsion. Inertia=retaining state of movement as long as not acted upon by external force. Okay. So it couldn't be inertia! Plenty of external forces! One more point on my scoreboard, thanks!

    Michele

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