In a four-post series, through the months of June and July, I will be exploring how we make the leap from different stages in our life. As women and writers, each chapter has its own unique joys and challenges. I have invited four different writers, from various stages in life, to be a part of this series. Join us as we explore the writing journey--the joys, enthusiasm, challenges, concerns, life-experiences, and growth that each season inevitably showers on us.
Jennie Bennett is a writer, mom of three little ones and a wife, teaching her children to pursue their dreams by setting the example. Maybe you can have it all.
Writing and Motherhood
“I don’t know how you do it,” she says to me.
“Some days I don’t know how I do it either,” I say. But that’s a lie.
Yes, I have three children who are five and under. I have a baby who’s eight months old. I’m a wife too, and I’m in charge of the cub scouts in my area. Time is precious. I want what every mother wants for their children, for them to grow up knowing they’re loved, and even more, for them to grow up following their dreams.
So how do I it?
The simple fact is, I want to do it. But even more than that, I want my children to follow their dreams. How can I push them to have a passion for life if I don’t follow my own passions?
“Actually,” I say, amending my false words. “I get up at five am. Once my kids are up, there’s no guarantee I’d be able to get any writing done.”
“I couldn’t do that,” she says. But I know she’s the one lying now. If she wanted it bad enough she would find a way. I wake up knowing that if I don’t write I might as well tell my kids that mommy’s going to be grumpy and I might lose my temper a few times.
Each day flies by with muddy footprints in the kitchen and bread crumbs on the table. But I keep my sanity. Writing has given me that gift.
J. A. Bennett is a mother and wife first and writer second. She blogs at J. A. Bennett about writing and other life musings. She is currently querying a Young Adult novel that combines the romance of Pride and Prejudice and the hijinks of The Parent Trap. She is also on Twitter, Facebook, and Google plus
I admire Jennie's determination to pursue her dreams while giving her family first priority in her life. Are you pursuing your writing dream while you raise little ones? Can you relate to Jennie's determination to keep her dreams alive while tending to her young family? How do you find the time?
Be sure to read Making the Leap again on July 10th. I will be talking about facing the...gulp...empty nest syndrome and the pursuit of writing.
Keep Writing,
Julie
Thanks for stopping by, Susan.
Kamy, I love that!
I have two little boys -- though not nearly as little as yours -- and sometimes they complain when mommy works, or goes to a board meeting, etc. And I always say to them, "can you imagine how my mother would feel if she had done all that work raising me, teaching me, and guiding me to become a person who can have a meaningful impact in the world, and I didn't use my abilities to do it?" I don't know how well they understand it, (or want to, when it's a question of time with me or time with a babysitter), but someday I hope they will.
A great framing idea for this four-part series. Thanks Julie and Jennie!