Someone needs to find me a cure – like, right now. For the last 8 weeks I’ve been suffering from distorted vision and it’s driving me crazy!

Now, just by way of history. I’ve been wearing corrective lenses since I was in 2nd grade. Yea, I was the tall, awkward girl in your class with the 1-inch thick eyeglasses. Thanks to contact lenses, I was rescued from perpetual geek-status in high school. But still, I was tired of not being able to see my alarm clock even when it was less than six inches from my face, so in 2006 I had LASIK.

Wow!

For the first time in years, I enjoyed 20/15 vision. But it only lasted about six months. Then my vision started slipping a bit and I needed glasses for total clarity. But still, I didn’t complain much. I mean, my vision is WAY better than it was before. At least now eyeglasses are optional and I can buy the ultra-cute frames only suitable for thin lenses.

Yep…life was good until my eyes became so puffy and blood-shot that I looked like I was constantly crying. Thinking it was just allergies, I tried the usual over-the-counter stuff. Nothing! Well, something… my vision was becoming distorted – to the point where with or without my eye glasses, the world was fuzzy!

So I headed to the ophthalmologist desperate to heal my irritated, fuzzy-seeing eyes. He told me I was suffering from severely dry eyes and that the dryness (and my rubbing) had created micro-tears on my corneas. Uh-oh. He prescribed Restasis and sent me on my way, promising that my vision would be restored in no time. Uh…last I checked 5 weeks IS time. It’s more time than I can bear with eyeballs that won’t focus properly, with or without the help of my glasses or contacts.

*sigh*

I can hardly take it anymore. Imagine not being able to read your computer screen (or anything for that matter) without squinting or pressing your nose right up against the words. Seriously… it’s that bad and I’m a writer, so not being able to see words is like taking away my oxygen supply. And every time I go to the doc for a follow-up he tells me, “Your sight will be back in no time!” Well, last time he did add, “I can’t guarantee when it’ll be back though.” Really?!

So, I’m blogging less here because frankly, I just barely get through my regular work before my head is pounding and eyes are absolutely exhausted from trying to focus all day long. I’m trying to rest my eyes as much as possible and started taking flaxseed oil at the recommendation of my optometrist friend. Between all the medicinal and homeopathic therapies I’m trying, I’d hoped for a complete vision healing! But no… eyeballs are still jacked up and I’m left to wait…

Yeah, remind me not to pray to God for patience again. I really think He’s answering my prayer right now and I kind of wish he hadn’t.

image credit: papa – Fotolia.com

Help! I’ve lost one of my senses is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

No related posts.

I’ve been ruminating quite a bit lately. Here’s a bit more of what’s on my mind.

I left the traditional workforce in 2003. My plan? To finally achieve work-life balance because I was going to be my own boss. I figured, if I made the rules, surely I’d give myself flexibility, understanding and support – all the things I wanted from my past employer. Right?

Yes and no.

In the first six months on my own, I was so busy! Oh, did I forgot to mention that I’d quit my job to launch my new business just a few months after delivering my second child and I was neck deep in graduate school? Nothing like going big! Despite my busyness, I loved the fast-paced variety of my new work-life. Best of all, I was in charge.

But I wasn’t a very good boss to myself. As a boss, I had insanely high expectations and was rarely satisfied. I demanded long hours and perfection. So it wasn’t long before my idyllic work-from-home life became a complete nightmare.

I was irritable.

I was angry.

I was depressed.

I was anxious.

I was not an integrated mother!

Plan B emerges.

In 2005, when it seemed that my departure from corporate employment was the biggest mistake of my life, I was pregnant with my third child. That pregnancy reminded me of why I had left the 7-to-7 working grind in the first place. I wanted to enjoy a life where all my roles integrated into a unified whole, rather than the disassembled pieces I’d been lugging around like a sack of rocks.

That’s when The Integrated Mother was born.

Recently, I dug back into my archive and found my very first post to this blog in 2005. June 10, 2005 to be exact. On that day I wrote,

“The Integrated Mother is the working title for my book, but it’s also a consulting and training company that serves high-achieving working mothers who struggle with the chaos that goes with wanting a successful career and well-balanced family life.”

I have to chuckle (and cry) when I read that statement because if you’ve known me or followed this blog for any length of time, I’m always in the process of “writing a book.” It’s 2010 and that book isn’t any where near complete! Instead, I have a scattered hodge-podge of blog posts, journal rants and miscellaneous writings about my journey through working motherhood that remains completely UN-integrated.

By the way, I did accomplish part of my original vision. From 2005-2007 I worked my tail off speaking & consulting to Fortune 500 companies in Southern California (where I was based at the time) on work-life effectiveness.

But life changed! As it usually does.

Plan C busts onto the scene.

When our family relocated to Phoenix, my work load was lightened – partly by choice, but mostly because replanting my business in a whole new city where I had ZERO connections proved challenging and I was a burnt out from the activity of building my business in California. Translation: I was too tired to start from scratch…again.

So I took a break and became a stay-at-home, wanna-be working mom. Yea, working is in my blood. After all, I’d been working non-stop since I was 14. Stopping out to be a stay-at-home mom was painful for me. I ended up teaching part-time college classes to feed my desire to do something other than wipe butts, clear snot, and sing, “I’m a little teacup.” Occasionally, my “expert” status as a work-life guru traveled to some women’s or mom’s group, and I’d be invited to share my story, offer my tips and give encouragement.

During this downtime in my career, I spent more time writing and blogging. That sparked my desire to finally claim the career I’d always wanted in the first place – to be a Writer (yea, with a capital “W” thank you very much!). I even kicked my book concept around again, but still, it remains unfinished. All in due time…I figure my story is still unfolding and just not ready to tell (hopefully that’s not an excuse).

In the meantime, I reinvented my work-life last year when I officially launched a copywriting business, specializing in marketing and employee communication. It’s a sweet spot for me – the perfect blend of my Human Resources, entrepreneurship and writing experience – yea, life is good. But it’s still changing.

This Fall my youngest will head to Kindergarten, which will undoubtedly cause a ripple in my work-life. At this point, I have no expectations that the outcome will be good or bad, I just know change is a comin’! And that’s probably the most important thing I’ve learned and appreciated most about working motherhood – it all changes.

Off to get myself ready for Plan D…

image credit:gunnar3000 – Fotolia.com

Plan B…C… is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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I‘ve been absent here for over a week and it’s not for lack of content to write about! In fact, my life has been changing, or more appropriately, I’ve been changing and that gives plenty of fodder for this blog. Yet it’s also the very reason I haven’t posted.

Some of the things ruminating through my mind are so raw that I’m not even sure I want to own it…just yet. I’d like to throw it on for size, enjoy it, revel in it, and truly own it before I lay claim to it here.

Of course, there are other things that have pulled my attention away from blogging too. For instance, I am enjoying life offline, as I progressively release virtual tethers that kept me hoovered over my Macbook or velcro’d to my iPhone, as the relationships I have with the real-life people sitting right next to me suffered. Add to this an increase in workload – paid and pro-bono – which is a great thing, but nonetheless a change that has caused my schedule to go a bit off kilter as I adjust my work-life…yet again.

No complaints though! Life is good…real good…and I’m enjoying it. It won’t be long before my workflow is back on track and I’m back in my groove, so watch out! More to come…

Ruminating is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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1. Plan B…C…

I may be a classic introvert, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy people. In fact, I love connecting with others and being a connector for others. Connecting, nurturing those amazing relationships with others, is fun and as a business owner, it’s profitable. You’re familiar with the adage, “People do business with those they like and trust.” It all comes down to those amazing relationships.

But as with anything of real pleasure, it can be a double-edged sword.

Leap, and the net will appear – right?

Besides being an introvert who loves people, I’m also a high-achiever, which means when I’m in – I’m all in and a BIG bag of chips! So when an opportunity presents itself to connect with more people, for business or otherwise, I tend to leap in.

And I found my net alright – the Internet!

In 2007, imagine my delight when I began to notice the rapid emergence of social media – blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. It was like connecting candy for me and it didn’t take long for me to jump into the online playground where I discovered new “friends” and business opportunities – all from the comfort and convenience of my home! That was the upside.

The downside is that I can’t be everywhere, even in the virtual space. Trying to manage a presence on multiple social networking sites, plus nurturing offline relationships, is nearly impossible – if you value sleep and quality connections, and I do. I’d much rather develop a strong relationship with a small handful and enjoy meaningful dialogue, than have thousands of hollow, empty friendships.

Am I being a good friend?

I don’t think so. Social media has turned “friend” into a verb (“Friend me.”) and it’s misleading. If I’m spread between dozens of communities – offline and online – we’re probably not really friends, just social acquaintances who happen to be in the same room. We’re not connecting – really. And I don’t enjoy those kinds of relationships.

So, since the beginning of this year I’ve been slowly weening myself off of various social networking sites and releasing the virtual tether to my laptop and iPhone. I closed down the Ning site I set up for The Integrated Mother and I’m moments from ending the LinkedIn group too. I’ve returned to the philosophy I’ve used in my offline networking: Quality over quantity. If you want to find me and truly “friend” me, please…I welcome you:

• To connect online, you can find me here, at Write to Incite or on Twitter. Every now and then, I’ll pop onto Facebook or LinkedIn.
• To connect in person, catch me at a NAWBO-Phoenix meeting or IABC-Phoenix event.

If I can’t be all in, I don’t want to be in at all.

Putting in a half-effort has never been my thing – at work, at home or in relationships. But that’s what happened with social media. I was a part of too many. I was putting in a half-effort. When I friended you, I only became your half-friend (ok, really your 1/100th-friend because I was all over the place!).

Social media, I still adore you! But, my journey with you caused me to lose sight of connections that truly matter to me. It caused me to be spread thin. As a working mom, it’s the kiss of death – feeling stretched between too many roles and responsibilities, only to be left empty and exhausted at the end of the day. No thanks. Life is too short.

Quality over quantity – that’s my connection philosophy and I’m stickin’ to it!

How are you doing it?

I imagine that my experience isn’t unlike many working moms who are juggling relationships online and offline. Where do you commit most of your time? What tips do you have for staying connected without losing yourself or your priorities in the process?

Please share in your comments.

Social media – the great connector, or not is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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2. Ruminating
3. Everyone communicates, few connect: a review

The start of this school year was bittersweet as we felt the pinch of recent state budget cuts in education. We said, “Good-bye,” to some of our favorite teachers despite bigger class sizes and fewer instructional resources. Sadly, many schools in the United States are facing similar situations as budgets are slashed.

I do the best I can to help. I volunteer in the classroom to help the teacher manage the larger class size. I buy bulk copy paper whenever I make a CostCo run. I give extra when the teacher collects money for class parties. But, my budget’s been slashed too and there’s a limit to how much additional time and money I can give.

And that’s why I love General Mills’ Box Tops for Education program. Since 1996, the Box Tops for Education program has provided extra cash to participating schools around the country. So far, the program has earned over $300 million and that’s something to brag about!

Look for this logo, clip & save!

How your school earns money
If your son or daughter attends a participating school, chances are you’ve heard about the Box Tops for Education program. My daughters’ school is an active participant and holds grade level competitions each year to encourage parents to send in Box Tops. My daughter’s K-class won last year, and she is beyond thrilled to brag about the awesome ice cream party her class received!

If you’re not familiar with Box Tops for Education, here’s how schools earn money:

• Clip Box Tops from your favorite General Mills products. Just look for the Box Top logo, snip the coupon and send it to your child’s school. Each Box Top is worth 10¢ and trust me, it adds up! We’re serious Box Top collectors, so we accumulate them in a container that sits on our kitchen counter. The kids love finding Box Tops on unexpected products; it’s like a treasure hunt! When the school sends out reminders to bring in Box Tops, I divvy them between my two daughter’s and off they go!
• Shop online at your favorite retailers. If you’re already buying products online, why not make the Box Tops Marketplace your portal to your favorite online retailers? Bookmark http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/Default.aspx and access retailers like Target, Gap, Oriental Trading Company and more. Each purchase earns your school up to 15%!
• Buy books from the Reading Room. America’s #1 bookstore, Barnes & Noble, has teamed up with Box Tops for Education to give up to 6% of your online purchase back to your school. As a mom raising a family of avid readers, this is one opportunity to give that has double benefits!
• Purchase items your child’s classroom needs with My Class Essentials™. My Class Essentials is a free, online registry where teachers create a list of needed items and supplies. You log in to view your child’s classroom registry and purchase items. The classroom receives the items, plus the school earns a 2% cash donation for every purchase. I love it!

I can’t say enough about the significance of this program. There’s real power in those tiny Box Tops and it adds up to cash in the hand’s of your school (the money is not diverted to some State education fund to be squandered). If you look in your pantry right now, chances are you’ll find a Box Top on many of your family’s favorite items like Cheerios and Ziploc.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting the Box Tops for Education program that gives much-need dollars back to our schools:

• If you’re a parent of school-age kids, ask if your child’s school participates in the Box Top for Education program;
• If you’re a parent, but your kids are not yet school-age, clip and save the Box Tops anyway. You can donate them to a friend, or directly to a participating school;
• If you’re a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, friend, or even a mere acquaintance, you can still help! Participating schools need those Box Tops. So don’t throw out the packaging without clipping the Box Tops first!

To learn more about the Box Tops for Education program, please be sure to check out these online resources:

• Visit the Box Tops for Education site at www.boxtops4education.com
• Follow Box Tops for Education on Twitter: @BTFE
• Become a fan of Box Tops of Education on FaceBook

Box Tops for Education: Small, but mighty is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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She'll always be my baby (age 3)

Today I wrote a post about World Breastfeeding Week and it immediately took me back to May 2001. That’s when my daughter took her first sips of my breast milk just moments after birth. Whew. It’s a powerful memory and it’s hard to believe it happened eight years ago!

The realization of how quickly time passes actually moved me last week when I took my eight year old daughter to the pediatrician. She had complained about her chest hurting for more than a week, “Mom, it feels like someone hit me, but no one did.” Later she told me she felt a lump. When I checked her, I felt it too. Immediately, I was filled with dread as I thought the worse, “She must have a cyst. Oh no.”

I arrived at the pediatrician office as I normally do, with all three of my kids in tow – ages 8, 6 and 3. We all crammed into the examination room as the doctor asked me and my daughter about her symptoms. Then, the doctor looked at me and smiled, “So, has she talked to her friends about this?”

Me: “What? Uh, no. Why would she do that?”

Doctor: Silently smiling with empathy.

Me: Pausing. Thinking. Then going into a panic, “Wait. Don’t say it. I’m not ready for this. Don’t tell me she’s growing boobs!” Yes, my normally cool, articulate self had been body snatched and replaced with a panicked mom coming to the realization that her baby wasn’t a baby anymore.

Doctor: “Well, let me just do a quick check to be sure.”

Me: Rambling, “Oh my gosh! I feel so old! What am I going to do? No. I can’t. I’m not ready!” Seriously, I lost my mind in that exam room.

Doctor: Still smiling, “Yes, she has breast buds.”

Me: Dying inside. Tears welling up in my eyes.

Doctor: So sweet and understanding, “I can see that you’re in denial,” smiling, “Let me suggest some resources…read The Care & Keeping of You first, then read it with your daughter…”

And with that, a quick office visit changed my life – again. But that’s the nature of motherhood. One day, you think you’ve got it all figured out and the next you’re thrown a curveball that rocks your world.

It’s been more than a week since that fateful doctor’s visit and I’m slowly growing into my new role as a mother of a pre-pubecent girl. Every day my daughter pops into my room to give me a status update on her breast buds and asks, “So, when can we go bra shopping?” She’s so stinkin’ excited about it! Meanwhile, I’ve been pulling out her baby pictures wondering how motherhood passed so quickly. If the first part went this fast, I’ll be sending her off to college in no time.

She must be thinking the same thing because as I wrapped up this post my daughter walked into my office, “Hey Mom, when I go to college how big do you think my breast buds will be?”

Dear Lord…

The speed of motherhood is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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When I created The Integrated Mother® in 2005, I was a working mom. I’m still a working mom, but the kind of work I do and the way it fits into my life is definitely different today. Then, I was a naive corporate expatriate making her way as an independent Human Resources consultant. Even though I was calling my own shots, my mentality was definitely still “corporate” as I essentially recreated my outside-of-work life inside my home. It took awhile to find my groove as a work-at-home mom, but I did it.

Then in 2006, I happened to catch a bit of Good Morning America where Diane Sawyer announced a segment on the “mommy wars” that essentially pitted working moms against those who left their careers to raise their children.

I was intrigued and annoyed. Having worked in Human Resources, I had seen and experienced my fair share of woman-on-woman bitterness in the workplace. I noticed that women who were friendly as individual contributors became fierce enemies when one of them rose through the ranks faster. My observations were later confirmed when I read Pat Heim’s provocative book, In the Company of Women, that explores how women undermine the success of other women in the workplace. I venture to say, women just plain undermine other women, regardless of the environment.

The battle between working moms and stay-at-homes moms being played by the media was frustrating and rocked my groove a bit. I began to question my value and worth as a career professional compared to the moms who had decided to maintain their traditional careers outside the home. I felt stuck in the middle as a work-at-home mom. I aspired for greatness in my business; my career was and is important to me. Yet, I also wanted the flexibility and ability to be there for my kids when they needed me (and in all truth, when I needed them).

So I watched the drama over the “mommy wars” unfold on the TV for the next several months. After awhile it bored me. And without sounding completely indifferent, I just didn’t care what other moms decided to do with their careers and kids. To each her own. We’re all adults and we’re all free to make decisions for our families. I presume you’re doing your best, and I thank you for letting me do my best.

I’ve been living under that guidance for the last few years and essentially put the whole “mommy wars” crap out of my mind. But there is always someone who has to fan the flames of the “mommy wars” in me and send me emails exhorting how I’ve got it all wrong. How all moms are “working moms” – yada, yada, yada. Please hold, while I grab my trash can and vomit.

Ok, so I don’t mean to be totally insensitive, but this is a huge peeve. But let’s just be honest, a mom who is holding up a career – whether that be a side business, a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture or a 9-to-5 gig – has vastly different issues compared to a mom who stays at home to raise her kids. Yes, both are “working,” but the work we do is different. Yes. It just is. And while I’m sure a Web site that addresses the needs of every mom on the planet is a terrific idea, it’s just not what this site or my Examiner.com column is all about. It just isn’t and it’s not likely to change in the near future. So gimme a break, alright?

Everyone is called to follow a passion and purpose in life. Some of us are called to stay at home with our kids. Others are called to continue in their careers, no matter how that looks. In my view, your choice is just as valid as my choice, but let me make it totally clear in case I’m still a being a bit fuzzy about my opinion – a mom’s decision to stay at home or continue in your career is a personal choice. I’m not wrong, and neither are you.

So there.

Mommy Wars: A tired but on-going debate is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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There are two things about summer break that drive me to the brink of crazy: 1) the suffocating, triple-digit Arizona heat that just goes on and on 24/7, morning and night, from June through October; and 2) trying to get work done while my three kids are home.

Combined, I’m a recipe for insanity – three active kids under 8 + one busy working mom with a pile of to-do’s for home and for work + stuck indoors for the better part of the day. At some point in the day, one of us will whine, “I wish we lived back in California,” and then the day is pretty much shot as we mope around the house missing our real home - cool, ocean breezes, family and friends.

Yet, there is a lot about summer that I absolutely love (even in Arizona) and one of them is when Mom’s House of Pancakes opens for business.

As the kids lazily crawl out of bed and head to the kitchen for breakfast, I’ve got my apron on, cinnamon-dusted batter mixed, and skillet warmed, “Welcome to Mom’s House of Pancakes! How would you like your pancakes today?”

When Mom’s House of Pancakes is open, the kids are free to order their pancakes however they choose. They love this! Their faces light up and they excitedly tell me how they want their custom pancakes made:

• One pancake with lots of butter and syrup and a scrambled egg with cheese, please!
• One pancake no butter, just syrup with strawberries on the side.
• One pancake with syrup and two slices of bacon.

As each plate is finished, I holler, “Order up!” and repeat the order, “One pancake…” Whoever ordered the plate runs up and I say, “It’s my pleasure to serve you. Hope you enjoy it!”

I’m always tickled by how much the kids relish this kind of overplayed, special attention. They gobble up their meals and when they drop their empty plates in the sink they say, “Thanks Mom! I love you.”

And in my book, that’s enough to cover the bill and a generous tip. (And it makes me forget, even for a moment, how much I miss being back home in California.)

Mom’s House of Pancakes is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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I run.

I run because it makes me feel strong.

I run to keep my size 6 figure.

I run because it’s cheaper than a gym membership.

I run to release stress.

I run to earn cheesy t-shirts, fun goodie bags, and cool medals.

…and today…

I ran to set a good example for my kids.

My kids are used to my running antics. I slink around the house in the wee hours of the early morning, assemble my running gear and quietly slip out of the house. Occasionally my oldest daughter, 8, will catch a glimpse of me on her way to the bathroom. I’m greeted by a drowsy “Hey Mom,” and a lazy wave as she wraps up and shuffles back to bed. Sometimes she can’t go back to sleep, so when I return an hour later I’m greeted by a more enthusiastic, “Hey Mom! How was your run?”

Last night, my daughter asked if she could join me on one of my early morning runs. Overhearing our plans, my 6 year old and 3 year old asked if they could come too.

“I leave early you guys. Like 5:15 am. Because it gets so hot here.”

Oh. (pause)

“But, I’ll leave a little later for you. We’ll leave at 6:30 am. That means up by 6. And that’s the latest. It’ll already be 85 by then.”

OK!

Excited for a run with mom, the kids became a flurry of activity and prepared to run the next morning by getting their workout clothes, socks and shoes ready. My 3 year old son even dug up his Go Diego Go backpack and stocked it with a water bottle, sunblock and a dry washcloth, “To wipe your sweat Mommy.” Nice.

As promised, I woke the kids up at 6 am. Surprisingly, they popped up, got dressed and were ready to go within 15 minutes. We headed out.

The girls ran, ‘Lil Man biked and I jogged.

We went exactly 0.9 miles to the neighborhood AJ’s Fine Food.

We enjoyed a nice breakfast.


He says, “Mommy. I think we should call Daddy to pick us up.”

They refreshed in the misters before we embarked on the 0.9 mile trek back home. Of course, one didn’t want her hair to get frizzy. I know the feeling. We avoid misters.

The last quarter-mile was tough for the girls. ‘Lil Man was encouraging though, “Oh c’mon guys. See?! I’m doing it!” Of course, he’s on a bike and the girls are on foot.

We made it home – sweaty, rosy and grateful for a great early morning together.

I run is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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For the last six years I’ve resisted having the label “work-at-home-mom,” or WAHM, used to describe me. Initially, this was because of my snobby, “I’m a real working mom,” attitude that was left from my days as a corporate cog. And apparently the conversation about what makes a real working mom is still a hot-button topic today. But I digress.

I left traditional, full-time employment in 2003 to go on my own and have been working from home ever since. I like love it. Even though “WAHM” is an accurate description of who I am today, I’ve struggled to fully to claim it as my identity. The powerful corporate cog of yesteryear lingers in every shadow and I’m culled back to the belief that I was a better person then than I am now. Of course, I know that’s not true. But the thought still hangs in the air urging me to breathe it in.

This push-pull struggle between identities has been the most intriguing part about being a mom – ever since I popped out that adorable 6 lbs 5.5 oz bundle of love in 2001, my life has been just one identity crisis after another:

• Working Woman to Working Mother to Work-at-Home-Mom
• Skinny Girl to Overweight Mom to Skinny Mom
• Corporate Cog to Savvy Mompreneur to Aspiring Writer
• …the list goes on…

Over the last several weeks I’ve tried to move past my obsession over the “WAHM” moniker. At first, I thought I might just have a problem with labels altogether. They can create stereotypes that inaccurately categorize people. For example, last year my daughter’s Kindergarten teacher found out that I’m half-Japanese, thus making my daughter a whooping one-quarter Japanese. That evening my daughter tells me, “Mr. X said I must eat a lot of rice.” This, while we happened to being eating rice for dinner, but that’s beside the point. The point is, labels are an opportunity for people to make wild generalizations about you – inaccurate or not. I wondered whether I really wanted to adopt the label “WAHM” and inherit all the stereotypes that go along with it.

I was over-thinking it all though. The answer to my WAHM identity crisis finally arrived this morning while I taking a shower – that’s where nirvana meets creativity and ideas tend to spark, or maybe it’s because the shower is the only time when my thoughts are free to roam without interruption, but again…digressing. Here’s what I finally came to: Claim it girl! And that’s what I’m doing today – claiming my identity:

I’m a work-at-home writer mom.

Of course, claiming a new identity isn’t exactly like flipping a light switch and just being “on.” There is an evolutionary process at work and that takes time. But I’m patient and am willing to grow into my new identity. One of the things that will change is the direction of this blog, which is currently focused on moms who work outside the home.

One thing is certain – I’m passionate about my life as a working mom. But after more than six years working from home, my perspective on life for moms who work outside of the home isn’t always on point. And let’s be honest – although we share many commonalities, a work-outside-the-home mom has different challenges than one who works from home.

For example, I don’t really know what it’s like to get up at 6 am to get the kids ready for daycare, because I haven’t had to do it for a long time. When I attempt to develop an article or personal essay for this blog, I’m forced to stretch my memory to a faraway experience just so we can relate.

Trying to fit into an outdated identity is tough work and probably a main reason many moms feel off balance. It’s far worse that taking the leap to claim an identity that’s been begging to be recognized. But, I won’t be doing you that disservice anymore. Over the next several weeks, this blog will likely undergo some changes as I work to grow into life as a work-at-home writer mom. And I can’t guarantee it’ll be pretty, but it’s sure to be interesting and more important a more accurate reflection of who I am today.

Your turn – is there a part of you that has been aching to come out, but you’ve resisted it? Why? Maybe it’s time you claimed it girl!

The therapy session has now ended.

Claim it girl! is a post from: The Integrated Mother®

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