We try this again (and hope for the best)
Having my ass thoroughly kicked by Influenza this past week and a half has given way to the kind of clarity that is normally deemed dangerous when provided to someone who has extreme motivation. However, since I am not one of those people, I have realized that my level of clarity is not as much dangerous as it is a part of the never ending cycle of my my propensity towards slacking and sulking. And so, with that realization in tow, I dug deep within and admitted defeat.
And yet, In the mist of hacking dry-coughs, body chills and body aches, I found myself understanding that defeat, even when it shakes you to the core and stuns you with realism, it is only temporary. It is a mere wrinkle in time that, through our own projection of fear, has amassed a reputation for being bad-ass. Defeat is in fact weak; it is a small sound in a loud world and need not be feared.
So, today, in the afterglow of antibiotics, antivirals, steroids, and rest, I broke out the weekly menu template that I made a while back, grabbed my very new coupon binder and scissors, and fired up my previously-created, thoroughly-neglected, Cozi account and muttered with skeptical-determination, “let’s rock!”
My husband, who was also knocking on death’s door the past week and change, let out a sigh (after 16 years he knows that my stubbornness has no limits), and agreed to rock out our plan of attack for the week. And we did. We planned a menu (my love of cooking did not die with my desire to replace my stomach this week), created a shopping list, sorted our coupons, and divided the rest of the household responsibilities between us. Because, truth be told, as much as I… Continue reading
Work-at-home Mom and Living: is it possible?
This is supposed to be my year of ACTION. A new year in which I accomplish my goals. I just have not been able to set them yet.
I am having such a hard time figuring out what to do with this blog. I named it “Mom on the Rise” because of the Maya Angelou poem “Still I Rise.” My mom thought that having a child (even after married and in my late 20s) was the end of my life. But I always felt that it was the beginning of a new one. I am a Mom, and still I rise. I completed my Master’s Degree and started a business.
But then I got tired.
I thought about letting it go and then about writing in more of a focused niche. And yet, neither has has sat well with me. I love this blog. The design. Some of the posts that I have written in the past. I’m not sure what the heck is keeping me from writing. Maybe it’s because I have WAY too many blogs. Or maybe it’s the web designing, consulting and running We of Hue….
Obviously, I tend to spread myself too thin. I have a problem saying “no” to people and focusing on what I want to do. In some ways, I think that I prevent myself from focusing because I don’t want to commit 100% and then fail. Or maybe it’s because I keep trying to live out the definition of “mom blogger” as set by others. Truthfully, I have been making decisions based on what I SHOULD be doing (as dictated by others) as opposed to what I want to do for a long time. It’s the result of coming from a very overbearing mom who really did not… Continue reading
The power of praise
I was recently hired as a social media manager for a regional company, a job that it seems I was born for. As you know, for the last two years I have been building my web design and social media business. Unfortunately, I have never been good at promoting myself so while I have managed to find some great clients, I have also been my greatest roadblock. However, through some great connections that I have made, and with the support of numerous peoplewho believe in me, I was given a great opportunity to do what I love.
The funny thing is that this has created a domino effect. Not only do I feel that I am finally being rewarded for my skills and knowledge, but I feel great about myself. I am more determined now to take over the world.
It’s funny how things work, right? How suddenly you can start to feel more positive about yourself because someone simply says, “good job” or “I believe in you!”
Don’t forget to tell your children these things every now and then. They are powerful and too often left unsaid.
Finding the Time
When I decided to shift to my niche, I asked readers to leave a question for me to answer in a blog post. It’s my way of encouraging a discussion and exchange of ideas and tips. The first question/comment comes from Jeanine aka NaturalMomma. Here is what she had to say:
Hi Kristina!
I have a question. How do you find enough time in your day for homeschooling and writing and meals and …?
I am making a bit of a switch, myself, in that I am wanting to write more, work one-on-one with clients less all in an effort to (1)live my purpose and (2)take my biz to the next level.
But as I have begun to spend more time writing mini-books and blog posts and reports and email follow-up messages, my son has begun to hate my computer!
Jeanine
My immediate response to Jeanine was a short reply which read, “You are not alone”. I stand by that still. You are not alone Jeanine no matter how it feels. Before becoming a work-at-home mom, I worked full time as an English teacher (9th grade) and for my daughter’s first year, I was also finishing grad school. I was a wreck. I left the house at 7:30 am and returned home most nights after 9:00 pm. On the nights that I was home earlier she was in bed by 5:30-6:00 EVERY NIGHT! I kid you not. I barely saw her and I was miserable.
After making the transition to WAHM I thought that life would get easier. I thought that I would have more time for her, but when you work from home it is even harder to draw boundaries at times. I was working 40-50 hour weeks trying to build a… Continue reading