The Strength of a Mother

"Becoming a mother makes you the mother of all children. From now on each wounded, abandoned, frightened child is yours. You live in the suffering mothers of every race and creed and weep with them. You long to comfort all who are desolate." -- Charlotte Gray

Since becoming a mother, the above quote rings true with me, and with lots of mothers I'm sure. I was a lot colder, unforgiving, proud, and stubborn as a person before becoming a mother. A crying child had almost no affect on me. Any mother, aside from my own, wasn't interesting to me. I didn't want to hear their problems, or screaming children, or the amount of long hours that they put into their day. Quite simply, I wasn't interested because I didn'tunderstand them. I didn't understand what it took to be a mom. And therefore, their trials and tribulations didn't hold my attention.

I can pinpoint when not only my attitude towards mothers changed, but also when my compassion for a mother came to the forefront. It was when I found out I was going to become a mother myself. To say that my life changed when reading the pregnancy test would be an understatement. Seeing two lines on a stick meant that I was going to become someone's world. Their ENTIRE world. I would be responsible for this person in every way. Every move I made would be analyzed by someone. 

During the nine months of my pregnancy, I became instantly aware that I was much more emotional. I cared so much more for strangers' children. I would see other moms out with their kids and if  I witnessed a bruised knee, tears welled up in my eyes. The rush of these new emotions scared me, I'm not going to lie. If I was this emotional being pregnant, I couldn't even imagine where my tears would gather once I delivered my child.

The day came, however, when I did deliver my son. I cried the whole day. This being my first pregnancy and delivery, you can imagine that I was scared...and that too is an understatement. I cried because I was scared, because I didn't know what to expect, and because I knew there was no going back. This was it. I was about to deliver life. A life that I made from scratch. From his eyebrows to his toenails. I made a human being inside me. Amazing. I still can't really believe I did it...or that it's done daily by women everywhere. The whole "two cells turn into a child" thing still baffles me. 

Once I settled into the daily routine of being a mother, although it's anything BUT routine, I noticed that I was still emotional about children, especially infants. They're so utterly helpless and dependant on their caregiver that anytime I heard about a child abuse story or an abandoned infant, it just about stopped me dead in my tracks. I cried, I said "how could anyone hurt a child", it bothered me immensely and still does. 

I have grown more compassionate to children and mothers. I now understand what a mother's job is all about, how hard it is to be a mom, how grueling and at the same time rewarding the process is. I feel for moms and children everyday. My tears and I have become friends instead of strangers now because I am so emotional since becoming a mother.

What Charlotte Gray says in the above quote is 100% true. Once you become a mother to your own child, you are now a mother to everyone's child. And until you experience motherhood firsthand, you will never be able to understand the bond that forges between a mother and child. It's so intense and so unwavering, that to describe it as unbreakable is even an understatement.

It's so much more than that. It's spiritual, metaphysical, and down right otherworldly. There are no words to depict the love between a mother and child. To say there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for my son doesn't even begin to bring the statement to life. I would kill, lie, cheat, and steal for my son in any way that I needed to. I am a normal person in every day life, but make me have to flex my mothering and I, like all moms, become supernatural. 

We can take on the world and anything that is thrown at us. We are the strongest and most important women in the world. We are mothers to every child. And I firmly believe that there is nothing in this world that can rise above that. 

Please, share your comments and stories. Hearing what other parents have to say is empowering to all mothers.

Why Horrible Sanity You Ask?

I frequently receive a lot of inquiries on how I came to name my blog Horrible Sanity. So much so, that I thought it would be beneficial to my readers if I added a blog post explaining exactly where, how, and why I chose that name for my blog.

I am a HUGE Edgar Allan Poe fan. My copy of his complete works is tattered, weathered, and downright needs to be replaced. But I don’t care. I cart it around everywhere I go. I just never know when I’m going to be able to grab a free minute to read a few pages in between writing and being a mother to my three year old. It’s sort of like an American Express card to me, I never leave home without it.

With that being said, there is a line in a letter that Mr. Poe uses and goes as so: “I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.” Brilliant huh? I think so. From the moment I read the line, I fell in love with it. I feel that the words describe my life at times. Being a mother and a writer is pure insanity, I’m sure those in the same boat as I would agree. Both need almost equal attention (the mother part winning out obviously) to grow and develop into something. 

I have been writing longer than I have been a mother. My son is three, and my writing career started when I was small. I was always writing something. A poem, a short story, notes, doodles, et cetera. English was my favorite subject throughout school and eventually when I reached college, choosing my major wasn’t hard at all. Writing comes naturally to me. As does editing. The two go hand in hand. If you can write well, then chances are, you can revise and edit any writing piece just as good.

Naturally, when I became a mother, my writing career faulted a little. My priorities were no longer putting pen to paper, I now had to mother. The part of me that wrote continuously really didn’t understand the abrupt change. Ideas swirled around inside my head, except now, I had an entire new subject to consider. Motherhood. I never attempted to write on the subject before because I knew I couldn’t even remotely grasp what it meant to be a mother until I actually became one myself.

Like most new moms, simply trying to get the hang of being a mother is enough to make anyone insane, let alone trying to find time to keep up a house and a career. For the first few months, I was too exhausted to do anything else but mother and sleep. I then found that I could write at nap times and at night. And eventually, as my son grew, we settled into a schedule and I was able to correctly juggle being a mom and a writer.

Horrible Sanity. Two words that are so powerful in my world. I thought it was a perfect name for my personal blog. Sometimes insanity seems the lesser evil to me. I’ve always thought in color rather than black and white. However, sanity can be so inviting at times as well. And horrible sanity, well that’s just the perfect mix for me. The split directly down the middle. I can allow myself to be sane (the mother part) and insane (the writer part) when I need a change from the norm. Creating my own world from the riddles that live in my head.

Welcome to my world. It’s called Horrible Sanity. Thanks Mr. Poe, for finding the words to describe an otherwise nameless existence.

Color Therapy

"Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand ways"    -Oscar Wilde-

Color. Think of it as you will...a color on a paint brush, a flower, a shirt, a candle, a picture, whatever comes to your mind first when you think of color.

I like how Wilde points out that color in it rawest form can mean more to one person than the Mona Lisa means to the world. Just a dot of red on a blank canvas can have infinite meaning to someone.

I'm sure for those of you that are artists, either you've heard that quote before or you're familiar with the way virginized color can excite the senses. 

Don't get me wrong, I know the results of color studies say that green is calming and whatnot. But its never dawned on me to really study a color when it isn't attached to an object or a meaning. 

I normally allow color to take me on a renewal journey. When I need inspiration I turn to color. Whether it be that I go outside, or I go to the park, sometimes even a museum. I allow for the colors to mix with my senses and my writing instincts look to grab a pen. 

If I've had a stressful day, I'll relax on my couch and light purple candles, because for me, I find purple to be calming. 

I guess that's what Wilde is getting at. Different colors mean different things to different people. Share your story...what color invokes your senses?

Are You A Morning or Night Person?

Question of the day: Are you a morning or night person?

I've been both. Allow me to explain. 

Before becoming a mother, I lived life in the second shift. I was a complete night owl. While I was never much for the bar and club scene, I worked the second shift, went to the gym at night, and reserved the dark for my writing and editing.

I had a second shift job for many years. I would get out of work anywhere between 9 or 10 p.m., then I would head over to the gym and workout till 11 or 12. I would go home, shower, and be up until 3 a.m. easily. I would sleep until noon or so, sometimes later, then I would get ready for work and do it all over again. I had no problems with the night, and I was really productive in the wee hours of the morning.

Once I became a mother, that all changed obviously. Staying up till 3 a.m. was totally out of the question. So, naturally, I adapted. I started going to bed early...really early. It took me some time to realize that trying to get work done with a child at home was damn near impossible. Being the analyzer that I am, I said "how can I make this work?" I needed to be able to be a good mother to my son as well as a good writer/editor to my clients. Both are equally important, and I needed to find a middle ground. So I did just that. I started setting my alarm earlier and earlier to be up before my son. One day it was one hour earlier, enough time for me to make a pot of coffee and THOROUGHLY enjoy it. The next few days it was a couple of hours earlier. I did this until I realized that getting up around 5:30 - 6:00 a.m. worked the best for me. It gave me a good, solid start on my day, my work, my schedule, my clients, my writing, and my editing. Oh...and some time to sip my coffee slowly...that's super important.

Quiet simply, I adapted. I found what not only worked best for my son and myself, but also what worked best for my clients.

Please share your thoughts. I'd love to learn some of your morning bird or night owl techniques.

Boy or Girl?

If you could choose the sex of your baby, would you choose a boy or a girl?

Considering I have only one child and he's the most handsome little boy you will ever meet, I can only speak from my experiences raising a boy. I'd like to be honest with you from the get go. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a daughter. I felt that I wouldn't know what to do with a boy. For starters I was a girl, so that gave me a one up already on raising one. And secondly, I really wanted the mother - daughter bond that I have with my mother.

Needless to say, that when I found out I was having a boy, I wasn't so happy. I know...terrible thing to say. But it's the truth, and I see no reason to lie. My family members were thrilled with whatever the sex because the baby was healthy. And my son's father was ecstatic because the last thing he wanted to do was raise a little girl. He's a man's man. He enjoys getting dirty, skinned knees and elbows, changing his own oil, and riding dirt bikes into the wee hours. For him, a son would be perfect.

But for me...it was the other way around. I wanted the little princess to dress up, to have tea parties with, to build a bear with, and shop for the latest shoes. I wanted to make a miniture me. There I said it.

She would have long, straight, brown hair with huge chestnut brown eyes. Eyelashes that stretched for miles, and a personality that would make even Madonna get on her knees and pray. She was going to be a leader no doubt. The next J.K. Rowling when it came down to creating and writing a magical world. Even Cinderella would envy her. That was the little girl I planned on having.

Instead, however, I pushed out a seven pound boy. He cried for twenty minutes straight. The nurses were laughing at his cute set of lungs. When I looked into my son's eyes, it was then I realized that I had a boy for a reason. What that exact reason is, boils down to science, I know. But metaphysically speaking, I believe I had a son to ground me. 

Someone had to knock the perfect little girl image from my foresight. I had to come down to reality. No one has the perfect child. And it's impossible to mold them into one parents...in case you were wondering. I took one look at this angelic child and it was clear that I had worried over raising a son for nothing.  It didn't matter the sex of my child. I was a mother to the most important person ever. No one in this world mattered to me more than my child. Boy or girl...I was a mother and it felt wonderful. 

Maybe my little girl will come one day, who knows. And I know that I have a mountain in front of me trying to raise a man. But I wouldn't have it any other way. When my son calls me mommy and runs into my arms, that's a feeling that can't be described. I've tried to put it into words, and I can't. 

And hey...I take my son shopping with me. He just prefers to take along a few Matchbox cars rather than a Barbie. No biggie.

Please share your mothering stories, whether you're raising a boy, girl, or both. I'd love to hear your side.

Mothering: Like Your Mom?

While I was cruising the internet, I came across a parenting blog that asked the question, "Will you be the kind of mother your mother was or will you be different?" I allowed my eyes to linger on the question for a few minutes, let the ideas roll around inside my head, then immediately decided I needed to blog about my response. 

I know this question can go many ways, and there is possibility for a huge debate/discussion on the topic. So it may be beneficial to break this question up into a few blog posts, but we'll see based on the responses.

My relationship with my mother is a close-knit one. We get along great, always have. She gave me everything I could ever want growing up, allowed me to find myself when I was going through my teenage years, and later when I became a mother, she is the best grandmother I (and my son) could ever ask for. So for me to answer the "what kind of mother will I be" question, my answer is simple: I hope to be exactly the kind of mother my mother was. 

Now that I have sat and dwelled on my answer, if I replay instances in my head dealing with my son, I can see that I reacted like my mother did when I was small. Why did I do that? Because I couldn't help it really. I am a product of her mothering. Naturally, when I chose the role as mother, my instincts leaned towards mothering like my mother did. I had no one else in my life to learn how to mother from except for my mother.

Those of you that are not close to your mothers will probably try to mother the exact opposite than the way you were mothered. Although I'm certain that if you look at the way you mother, there will be similarities somewhere. 

Please share your thoughts and experiences on how alike or dislike your mothering skills are from your own mother's.

What's Your Favorite Book?

What's your favorite book?

Seems like an easy question to answer don't you think? Try it. Be honest. There's a LOT of books out there and no one has read them all. So how can you be sure that's your favorite book? A-ha...I just made it a hard question to answer didn't I? Maybe not.

In any case, allow me to tell you my answer to the question. My favorite book is Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.  If you haven't yet read Lolita, then I highly recommend the book. Sure, its theme maybe a little taboo, but there's no denying the book is genius really.

Before you can understand and enjoy Lolita, I think it's prudent that you learn about the author himself, and try to see why and how a man could write such a genius novel. If you've ever read anything by the author, it's easy to see that he has a way with words. For starters, he was fluent in three languages. He was an avid chess player. He wrote everything in longhand. He couldn't type and therefore dismissed typewriters. (I think that having to write everything out is therapeutic to a writer and I too still use longhand to record articles, journal entries, and things of the like.) He taught English at ivy leagues such as Wellesley and Cornell. Nabokov was also a lepidopterist and worked at a zoologist museum at Harvard.

Lolita was published in 1955, banned from Paris from 1956-1958, and never fully published in the U.K. or America until 1958. Since its publication, Lolita remains one of the most controversial novels of the 20th century. Simply fascinating as far as I'm concerned.

Lolita is one of those books that requires you to think. When you read it for the first couple of times, have a dictionary by your side. Regardless of where you were educated or how many graduate degrees you have, your going to need a collegiate dictionary. Period. However, please don't let this deter you from reading and enjoying the book. It simply means the book is meant to be savored and digested, not just skimmed.

The word choice and sentence structure is amazing. Words rhyme, phrases unite and link back, and alliteration lingers on the tongue long after you've moved past the passage. I would have loved to meet Nabokov to see if he talked as mellifluously as he wrote. I'd love to be able to write like him.

Some authors simply have a way with words. The fact that he was fluent in three foreign languages had a lot to do with the way he delivered his depictions I'm sure. Like Edgar Allan Poe sometimes did, Nabokov would create brand new words simply to fit into his writing if he couldn't find one he liked. 

If you haven't read Lolita, I encourage you to buy a copy. Don't bother borrowing it from the library. Buy it. It's really THAT good of a novel that you'll want to reread it several times and even allow it a home on your bookshelf. 

What's your favorite book? Please share, I'd be delighted to know.

You Are Your Biggest Fan

I see many new freelancers ask this question either to myself, or on other freelancing websites. "What is the best way to get to know other freelancers?" Being a fellow freelance writer and editor, I feel it my civic duty to other writers out there, be it that you're brand new or you've been around the block as a writer, to provide you with some ways that I was able to get my writing career off the ground.   

First off, I find it important to mention that these tips will come in handy for any type of freelancer, not just writers. If you're a graphic designer, a software engineer, a computer programmer, et cetera. Think of the tips as starting points for anyone wanting to break into the freelancing world.  

1.)     RUB ELBOWS:  Ahhh....the old elbow rub. This is either super easy or super intimidating for some. Those people that are extroverts such as myself, have no problem getting their name out there. But those that are introverts, well, you tend to be shy and want to hide in your shell. You're going to have to get over that, and fast. Granted, a lot, if not all, of your freelancing career can and will be done online, but that doesn't mean that you can hide behind your ergonomic chair forever. 

Rubbing elbows means just that. Getting yourself known. Attend writers conferences, photography workshops, library events, etc. Just because you want to be a freelance writer and not a graphic designer doesn't mean that you should ignore the designer market. If a client calls up their friend, Mr. Graphic Designer, and tells him that they need an awesome six hundred word article to accompany that breathtaking picture of Niagara Falls that he took last weekend, who do you think Mr. Designer is going to turn to? Yep, you guessed it, his freelance writing friends. So don't dismiss fellow freelancers just because they may not be in your niche. Think of your elbows as the paint brushes that should be spread across the ENTIRE freelancing community canvas. And don't forget to pick bright colors, for they attract more attention.

2.)     Social Networking:   I'm sure most of you are already members of some of the social networking sites. But if you're not, then you need to be, and fast. No one has the ability to deny that sites like LinkedIn and Twitter can take your business to new heights. I've seen it personally with Twitter. The more I tweet my blog and website, the more hits it gets. Simple move right? Right. Now go sign up for all the social networking sites that you can click your mouse on. And hurry. Some other freelancer is doing just that right now, and taking your could-be customers. So get a move on.

3.)     Business cards:   I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Why do I need business cards, I never leave my house. I find all of my work online."  And others are thinking "Geesh, how can you NOT have business cards?"  

Business cards are your key to any lock. Remember that. Put them up at your local bank, library, convention centers, super markets, ANYWHERE.  You never know when a fellow publisher, writer, or photographer will see that you are a freelance writer and need your services. If you don't have business cards, then as soon as you are done reading this post, Google business cards and get to work. It's going to take you some time to pick out the appropriate colors, fonts, and designs,  so allow room to play in your schedule. Make sure that, if you're a first time business card buyer, that you also purchase a card holder so that you can carry your business cards in a professional fashion rather than wrapping them in a rubber band and throwing them in your back pocket. Don't laugh, I know many a people that do just that. Then they give me their business card with dog eared edges and the half bend that only a back pocket can make. "No thanks, keep your card" is what I want to say. But I take it and toss it in the nearest trash receptacle because I can't take you seriously if you don't take yourself seriously.   

Remember my fellow freelancers, you are your biggest fan. If you don't think your awesome, then no one else will. So be an extrovert and let yourself shake a few hands and hand out a few cards. Make friends with fellow freelancers. And don't forget to let me know how you make out on your road to stardom. I'm here to help if you need it. Also, if you've found other ways that have helped your freelance career, please comment on this post so that everyone can reap the benefits of more clients.

Guest Blogger Day

Today is guest blogger day. I am a part of Michelle Rafter's May blogathon and Michelle thought making May 21 guest blogger day would be a nice touch, and I agree. 

For my guest blogger I have Marilyn McClellan. We met during the blogathon. She wrote me a very sweet email from my site, explaining how she thought I was her daughter for a second because we had many similarities (a child the same age, a blog, her daughter is also an editor).  I appreciated the fact that Marilyn took the time to write me an email to tell me that story and also that she enjoyed my blog. Needless to say, when it was time to pick a guest blogger, my choice wasn't hard at all.

Without further adeu, here is the bio that Marilyn wrote about herself. Please do visit her blog, she blogs from her heart and it's very warming to read.

Marilyn writes:

How nice of Danielle to invite me onto her blog for the day. I began my blog www.marilynmcclellan.com/blog while traveling to Singapore shortly after my husband died. It was a welcome diversion during a stressful time. I returned home to the Pacific Northwest and lost interest until I began a major remodel of my house in 2007. My blog gave me a chance to chronicle the adventure and take friends and family along on the transformation of my century old house. My designer began showing the blog to her clients and even my contractor admitted to reading it.

Blogs are such a deceptive curiosity. They feel so solitary during the writing. Then, someone I hardly know will say, “Oh, I know all about that. I read your blog.”

I’m a mother and a grandmother who was carried into cyber space by my husband and children. I ‘m a retired school counselor but my career has taken on a second life as a writer of nonfiction children’s books. I teach at our local community college and supervise counseling interns. I love crossword puzzles and British mysteries, and I’m fortunate to live in a beautiful town overlooking the Puget Sound.

Thank you Marilyn for being my guest today. It's been a pleasure getting to know you.

Please head over to Marilyn's blog. I am a guest on her blog today.

Willy Wonka

I happened to see mention of Willy Wonka today in my web surfing and I'll tell you, it stuck in my head all day. Naturally, when I sat down to write this post, the first thing that I thought of to write on was Willy Wonka. 

Who wouldn't want to be Willy really? He has a cool name, a cool factory, and all the candy a person could ever want. He has awesome taste in clothes, and while he can be abnormal at times, for the most part he can hold good conversation.

Wonka is a cool character in my book. Both the original movie with Gene Wilder was good as well as the newer version with Johnny Depp. I'd love to have a chocolate waterfall to drink from whenever the mood strikes. 

And Dahl's characters are infamous. Veruca Salt bore a band in the early nineties named after it, oompa-loopas are iconic really, and who doesn't secretly get excited opening a Wonka Bar in hopes of finding a golden ticket?

The book itself is delicious really. Dahl's writing both inspires and creates writers even today. My son is only three and already I've read him two of Roald Dahl's books (Willy Wonka and James and the Giant Peach). 

Wonka is timeless. And the oompa loompas always have good advice. See below.

"What do you get from a glut of TV? 
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three 
Why don't you try simply reading a book? 
Or can you just not bear to look?"

A Writer's Insanity

Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum.  ~Graycie Harmon

I was looking over some writing quotes that I have listed on my personal website and this one by Graycie Harmon caught my eye. How true it is though, no? I think so. 

I think writers in general are a walking insane asylum most of the time. I know for me, ideas are constantly getting in line inside my head in hopes of coming out in the form of words. Characters are hungry for the ink that will bring them to life. Even the mediocre ideas and story lines are eager for stardom. You don't have to be a published author to have stacks and stacks of material. If you write at all, for pleasure or business, you're a writer.

Like I have mentioned in some of my previous postings, I have been writing SOMETHING ever since I was small, be it poetry or short stories, articles or drawings. I was always producing filled notebooks and journals. Bookstores and hole in the wall coffee shops became my second homes.

I know lots of writers who are they same way. They have to write almost daily or they feel like something is missing. Writing is a healthy outlet for all, so is reading. And even if you're not a lover of literature, reading a book can be an extremely calming sensation. 

Being in charge of your own insane asylum has its perks as well as its downfalls. It's up to you as the writer to decide which direction your writing can and will take you in if you believe in yourself.

And hey, if all else fails, a padded room doesn't sound all THAT bad. I hear that padded walls make great pillows.

Cat Fights

I read an interesting article on momlogic today dealing with bully's at work, and how most of them are female. Find the article here.

I've had both male and female bosses and personally, I'd prefer to work for a male boss. In my experience, guys seem to let things roll of their back more and not take things too personally. Women rule with their emotions and have a tendency to hold grudges. Again, this is MY opinion. I'm not saying this is true in all cases. I know some men who who worse than women when it comes to tears.

Females by nature are catty as far I'm concerned. I can't tell you how many times I've seen women look each other up and down and smile in your face one minute just to talk about you the next. I could care less about what people think of me and therefore I've personally never had a problem working with women, I would just prefer to work under a man. 

Tell me your thoughts, both on the article at momlogic and your experiences working for both female and male bosses. Comments are both encouraged and appreciated.

A Parent's Devotion

I spend a lot of time on the parenting blog of the New York Times website because, hey, I'm a parent. Today I came across this post entitled Mother Punches Teacher. It's about a mother who punched a teacher for supposedly choking her five year old son. After the principal sat down with both parent and teacher, the teacher denied choking the boy but admitted to shaking him, the mother then right hooked the teacher on his head.

"What would I have done if I were in that situation" I asked myself. After much deliberation on my part, my answer is still not clear. I guess I would have to BE in that situation before I pass judgement on either party. What I can answer however, is the fact that I'm a quick reactor. I tend not to think of the consequences of my actions. I do as my emotions tell me to. Perhaps the mother involved in this dispute was the same way.

Since becoming a parent, I feel an extremely strong pull to always defend my son. I'm always making sure to keep him out of harms way so that I won't ever have to feel like I have to defend him physically. But, I can tell you, that I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Any good mother knows...you don't disrespect someone else's children. No matter how bad they're acting up, you don't ever discipline someone else's child. Ever. Period.

I know that schools have it hard when it comes to disciplining kids. You're not allowed to physically restrain them or put a hand to them. With some kids these days, verbal discipline doesn't always work. The article fails to explain what the child did, but that in no way excuses the fact that the teacher put his hands on someones child. Still, was it right for the mother to put her hands on the teacher?

I don't believe violence solves anything, however, I do believe in standing up for your child.  It is your right as a parent to ensure your child's safety. And who knows what really happened between the teacher and child. The child says the teacher choked him, but the teacher claims he shook the child. Either way, bodily harm could have come to the child. Lets not even go there with all the neurological harm that can come from shaking a child.

Ok...I'm ready for the comments...let them fly moms. :)

A Writer's Worth

Today I came across a blog by Lori Widmer called Words on the Page. Every year on May 15, Lori has declared it Writers Worth Day. 2009 marks the second annual Writers Worth Day. I spent some time on Lori's blog and enjoyed myself. As with any writer, finding a good blog or web page that will help with not only the technique of writing, but also one that will appreciate the value of a good writer is A-OK in my book. Kudos to Lori for creating such a day and blog about just that.

It's kind of coincidental that I came across Lori's blog today, considering I was mulling over my own prices as a writer. If you don't believe in yourself no one else will. You've heard that millions of times walking on the road to adulthood. This simple way of thinking is what gets rich people rich, and makes normal people extraordinary. It's natural to be attracted to positive things, and in turn positive people. Happiness is a drug as far as I'm concerned and people crave it. I steer clear of people who have lots of negativity surrounding them. I don't want to catch any of it. I've always been an upbeat person and I believe that is what turned me into a professional writer and editor. That and years of college, oh, and LOTS of reading and writing.

Like with any drug, if you surround yourself with it 24 hours a day...you're going to become addicted. If you surround yourself with negativity, you're going to become negative yourself. When I say negative, I'm also enveloping everything that comes with it. Mood swings, depression, lack of energy, lying, stealing, et cetera. Granted, all of the aforementioned may not come to pass simply because you're having a bad day. But, have numerous bad days in a row for long periods of time, and the likelihood of becoming negative yourself is simply waiting for you to shake hands with it. And once you invite it in, it's hard to kick it out.

Alas, the same goes for being positive. Surround yourself with positive people, things, feelings, items, writers, et cetera and you can't help but be a positive person. And like I stated before, people CRAVE happiness. They run to it like a kid runs to an ice cream truck. Serenity of the soul is extremely liberating. Knowing what your worth as a writer, opens the flood gates to getting top jobs, becoming friends with top editors, and overall, being paid what your worth.

It's important for me to steer you in the right direction, however. If you know that your writing is mediocre then don't ask for $1 a word. Most people can smell a rat miles away, this includes your clients. Writing is an art. And with all artistic endeavours, you're either good at it or your not. If you want to improve on your writing, my advice is simple...READ. It's not all you can do but it's one of the most important. It seems that people just don't sit down with themselves anymore and read. Reading is and has been one of my favorite activities to do while I'm alone. That doesn't mean going to a drug store and grabbing a Cosmopolitan or Glamour mag. It entails going to Borders and hanging out in the Literature section perhaps, and picking up a classic like Le Morte d'Arthur. Read it slowly and really try and understand WHY Sir Thomas Mallory is canonized even today in high school and college classrooms world wide.

Granted, you don't have to pick up Mallory's book during your Borders visit, you can choose whatever you like. However, I enjoy finding out WHY people and their accomplishments become iconic. So naturally, as a writer and an English major, the classics beckon me constantly. I'm always rereading books to understand why they are considered classic literature.

This can be applied to why the good writers and journalists are getting paid the big bucks and why mediocre writers aren't. Either they're weren't good writers to begin with, or they just don't believe that they are worth more than a residual income. To bring it back to my original point, if you don't believe in yourself then no one else will. Know that if you're a freelance writer (or a writer on any level), chances are you've chosen the profession because you like to write. Take some time to revaluate your worth as a writer. In the process of revaluating your objections on your job, you can't help but revaluate yourself as a writer as well. And that's what Friday was all about. A Writer's Worth.

As always, comments are welcome from any angle.

Organization. It's an art really.

Being organized is an art as far as I'm concerned. It takes special talent to be that kind of a person. Normal individuals aren't nearly as organized as they should be. Take yourself for example, how many times have you spent ten or more minutes looking for car keys, paperwork, ingredients, cooking utensils, etc? Even though I know where things are in my house, I know I could use more tips for better organizing my belongings.

Here's a short list of tips that I've picked up either from magazines, friends, or web surfing. As always, if you know of any organizing tips that you've found are working for you (and your family) then please share. I don't know of anyone (mother or writer) that couldn't benefit from being more organized.

Lists: Really...this is common sense but for some reason it's one of the hardest organizational techniques to follow. I tend to make lists quite often. But I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten my grocery list at home and have winged it at the market only to return home realizing I forgot about ten items. Notebooks can be a great source of inspiration for writers as well as making awesome scrap paper for jotting things down. After you find what size notebook works for you, buy a few and stick them everywhere, in your car, in your purse, on your night stand. Wherever you think you may need to write something down. Don't laugh...but tuck one away in the bathroom as well. The need for a new bottle of mouthwash or Tums arises just as much as the need for milk while in the kitchen.

Virtual Lists: For those of you who live on your computers and Blackberry's, both come equipped with "To Do" applications. Google has them, Blackberry has a a memo pad, voice recording, and a task application built right into it. If your driving and can't write something down then simply record it and it's there for you to play back or write down in the future.

Dry Erase Boards: I know personally, because I just hit up Staples not too long ago, that they now have dry erase magnets for your fridge, filing cabinets, wherever you need small reminders. I happen to have three dry erase magnets hanging on my fridge as I write this. I use them constantly as "To Do" lists and to remember odd things like what size clothes my friends' kids are in. Best part is, for all you "green" people out there, is there's no waste. You're not throwing any paper away and when you no longer need the current message you have written on them, simply erase them and start anew. Fantastic idea really. I can picture those of you with filing cabinets using them to your advantage. Especially if space is a concern, they're about the size of a Post-It note. Ideal if you don't have the space to hang a normal size dry erase board but still want the convenience of using one.

Post-It Notes: I'd kiss the inventor of these if I could. Quite possibly one of the best things ever invented. Stick them wherever you find necessary and now a days, they come in an array of sizes, shapes, colors, lined or unlined, and even "super sticky". Really, what more could you ask for in terms of becoming organized?

Baskets: Use inexpensive baskets to organize things. If you prefer to shop at Pier 1 and get really pretty ones, then be my guest. I prefer the cheepos from Wal-Mart or Target. With an array of shapes and sizes, baskets make a fantastic organizing tool, and they are fairly decorative as well which is always a plus. Try to keep like things in each basket. For instance, if you're filling the basket with accessories for your bathroom, then keep things that go in the bathroom only. Toothpaste, hair elastics, tooth brushes, mouth wash, hair products, etc. Seems pretty simple right? Then how come more of us don't do it?

For now, that's my short list. As I find more I like, I'll keep us updated. Again, add your two cents at any point...I love finding new ways to organize, and so do my readers.

Guest Blogging = FREE Exposure. Why not do it?

Just a quick reminder, my fellow readers. I'm always looking for guest bloggers. It would be wonderful if we could be guests on each others blog on the same day. For instance, I'm looking for Fridays to be "Guest Day". You could be a guest on my blog and I would be a guest on your blog.

I feel it's a great way to gain exposure for both blogs and the kind of work you do (free promotion basically). I'm thinking that about a 200 word post describing yourself, your blog, the kind of work you do, how you got into it, and why you chose the profession would be suffice. Obviously whatever else you want to mention (kids, husband, etc) is fine and should be thrown into the bio.

Writers in all genres should be guest blogging weekly as far as I'm concerned. It's a fantastic and FREE way to get your name out there and network with other writers, which is VERY important if you want your writing career to go anywhere. I know some fellow freelancers who think that guest blogging is a waste of time. I'm not sure how any writer could turn down free publicity.

With that being said, please email me (daniellefreelances@gmail.com) and we can talk about helping each other out by guest blogging.

Do you have other free ways of promoting yourself? Please share with my readers and I. We'd love to hear your story.

Heaven in a Cup

I simply can not get over my love of coffee. As soon as I wake up, I head right over to the coffee maker to get it going. I fancy flavored coffee (rather than flavored cream or shots) so I go with a scoop of hazelnut (not decaf) and a scoop of decaf. This way I'm getting enough caffeine to wake me but not so much that I could paint the next Sistine chapel.

While I'm waiting for my pot to brew, I start thinking of what it is I have to write and/or edit today, and what I will be writing my blog post on as well. Sometimes the two intertwine but mostly they remain separate. As I'm planning in my mind, that beautiful smell of fresh coffee waifs under my nose and I inhale deeply. I literally can't wait to pour my first cup and fix it with a dash of milk and two sugars.

I get up a couple of hours prior to my three year old so that I can have some solitude. I CRAVE being alone with myself. Silence has always been my best friend and it's during the silence that I create all my writing that has filled countless notebooks throughout my life. With my son still asleep, I fix my coffee and head over to the computer to check and answer emails.

I relish every sip of my perfectly flavored masterpiece and swallow slowly. I don't want to rush the calming sensation it gives me. That first cup of hot, fresh coffee in the morning is like an imaginary masseuse giving me a deep, slow back rub. It wakes up my senses and warms my mind. I'll finish my pot of coffee till the last drop, although sometimes I do make extra to cool and have later as iced coffee. But for the most part the pot disappears before my son even rubs the sand from his eyes.

Are you a coffee or tea fan? Tell me how they help you create (or just wake you up in the a.m.). I'd love to hear your story.

Time Out for A Writer's Soul

When writers write, we need a time out. This can be a quick five minute run to the kitchen for a cup of tea or coffee. It can also mean taking a few hours off from your current assignment to run an errand, go sit outside for some fresh air and inspiration, or taking the entire weekend off to find new ideas to write about. Whatever your preference for your time out is, it's an important part of being a writer.

Taking some time to yourself will not only provide you with new in site into your writing, but it will also refresh your soul so that you AND your writing become one. No, I'm not trying to get spiritual here. I'm simply pointing out that it's good to walk away from the desk once and a while.

Writers are often couped up in their office daily. Whether that office is a huge circular room loaded with bookshelves that touch the ceiling, or it's your laptop on your kitchen table...an office is an office.

I realized the importance of ten minute mini breaks when I started college. Considering that English was my major for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, you can rest assured that I did LOTS of reading and writing. Those long assignments warranted a break for sure. And after trial and error of alternating long and short breaks, I found that for myself, it was best if I took a ten to fifteen minute break once every hour or hour and a half. Simply to get up, stretch, grab a drink, check email...whatever. Just to get away from my books for a few allowed me to return to them with wider eyes.

Do you have a time out ritual when you write? Tell me about your habits for renewing yourself and your writing. I love learning new styles on how to relax in between writing.

Diaper Rash? Let's Talk

I've been reading a lot lately on diaper rash. I'm not going looking for articles or anything, they just keep popping up on websites I visit, or alerts I get from my email. I thought it would be helpful to the other mother's out there if I shared my story of how my son has never had a day of diaper rash since he was born almost three years ago.

My secret? The answer for diaper rash sufferer's everywhere? POWDER...and lots of it. When I was pregnant I read every thing having to do with newborns that I could find. I absorbed all the information and baked it into my own "baby-pie". I kept reading that today's moms have gotten away from using powder for fear of health reasons for newborns (research shows that infants inhaling the talc in powder can be harmful for their lungs...more on that in a minute). On the other hand, the benefits of using baby powder in preventing and treating diaper rash greatly outweighed the negatives. So, I decided I would give it a try and see how it worked.

Literally, from the day I birthed my son, I have been using baby powder on his bum. When he was a newborn, I would simply sprinkle the powder onto his entire diaper BEFORE putting the diaper on him. I did this to keep the powder away from his face. And by sprinkling it on the diaper and not him, I didn't have to worry that he was breathing in the talc. As he got older, four months and up, I simply would put the powder directly onto his genitalia WHILE changing his diaper. I've always had a heavy hand when it comes to powder and feel that you can never have enough baby powder on a cute, little poopie...but you may feel like less is more. Experiment on the amounts.

Either way, I have found firsthand that regardless of the amount of baby powder you use, its the best way of preventing diaper rash. Think about yourself. I'm sure some of you use powder on your body daily. You know how well powder keeps you dry and helps prevent rashes....well it does the same for babies. They sit in a diaper twenty four hours a day....imagine having that wet thing rub on your tush without any protection!

Another note worth mentioning. Because my son has never had diaper rash, that means I've never had to buy any creams or ointments for healing diaper rash. This is a HUGE money saver moms! Preventing the problem means spending less money trying to remedy it. You can purchase a decent sized bottle of baby powder at your local dollar store. That's way less that a $5 or $6 dollar tube of diaper rash cream don't you think?

If your a powder user for your baby....tell me your story. If your not...try using baby powder and let me know if you notice a difference in diaper rash.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day. In my opinion, THE single most important day of the year. Every day should be mother's day if you ask me. Mothering is a hard job. It's not just changing diapers, giving baths, making dinner, cleaning the house, etc. There's so much more mental planning and prep work going on that no one sees.

Before I became a mother, and when I was younger, I would toss a few cards and cheap gifts at my mom. Give her a hug and a kiss and wish her "Happy Mother's Day". However, blossoming into adult and mommy hood has given me a new found appreciation for not just my own mom, but mother's everywhere. So selflessly we give ourselves up to better our children. No one really notices that mothers eat last, or go a few extra weeks without that hair cut so that our children can walk around in Uggs rather than no name wanna-be's.

Above all, we want to see our children thrive. And we'll give up anything to give them more than what we had. That often goes unnoticed...or in some instances...it's expected. So...mother's....biological...adoptive...whatever....enjoy your day. Have an extra pancake and cup of coffee that your kids made you this morning. Go get a pedicure AND manicure simply because you DESERVE it.

Enjoy being the most important person in someones life. Recognize that you are and continue to set good examples for your kids to follow. No one loves you and looks up to you more than your children. No one will ever need you to hold them tight more than your kids. Know that when you receive the thousands of hugs and kisses daily (and the attitudes on the bad days) that that is your child's way of saying "I love you and all you do for me mommy".

With warmest wishes....Happy Mother's Day to all the moms. Enjoy your day.

Library or Bookstore?

Library or bookstore? My answer to the question would be bookstore...and here's why. And, please, don't think me out to be a snotty, spoiled lady....but I adore brand new books. There's something about being the first and only person to crack open that semi-stiff cover. Beautiful, new, crisp, unmarked pages coupled with that brand new book smell. I'm lost immediately within the pages...turning to the next page from the top right corner and gently running my hand down the untouched page. I can't help but want a book to be new.

I first realized my preference for new books in middle school. I loathed getting used text books from the kids before me and seeing their names sloppily written in the space above where I was instructed to print mine. Their mindless doodling and dog-eared pages secretly made my writing hand twitch. This "phobia" continued well into high school and into my college years. I remember very vividly reaching for the new versus used pile of textbooks from my college bookstore. I didn't care about how much money I wasn't saving buying new rather than used. I didn't want to be engrossed in my reading and have to ignore bright pink highlighted passages that someone before me thought may have been important...because..chances are...I knew I wasn't going to find what they thought was important to them important to me.

I read seriously and sedulously. Chewing every word slowly before swallowing and moving onto the next. I mark pages and passages different from the normal person. I created my own editing format that only I can understand. And I also knew that I would keep all my college literature, so that was even more of a reason for me to buy new...when I needed to reference back to those books (which I often do) I would be able to flip to the section I know is important, rather than trying to determine if I highlighted that section or if it was the student prior to me.

Not that I don't go to my local library or used book stores, I do. I utilize the workshops they offer and I network myself as a writer in my community. But I don't check out or buy many used books....I'll browse more often than not. I'll write interesting titles and authors down, then head over to Borders to buy them so I can read them as fast or slow as I want.

You've heard my preference for library versus bookstore. Please share your preference for new or used books. I'd love to hear your story.

A Writer's Notebook

For some writers of today, the digital age is so overbearing that it's hard to know how we lived BEFORE Blackberry's and laptops. I'm only thirty, but I can remember very clearly not having a cell phone until I was in my late teens. I had a beeper...back when they were cool for "regular" people, not just doctors. I didn't grow up having four computers in my house. In fact, I had zero computers for many years. As kids, we went outside to play. We didn't sit in front of the TV for hours. I built snowmen and volcanos in the sand to occupy my time. Without even knowing it, I had tons of inspiration around me. Just from being outside, my mind was absorbing all the creative forces around me. And that must be why I always carried around a notebook and a pencil. Not a pen. A pencil. Even today, I tend to write more in pencil. I like the fact you can erase what you don't enjoy. You have to cross out if you pen it.

My love of writing grew as I did. Even today I have notebooks, diaries, and journals galore in my house, in my purse, near my bed, and in my car. I fancy ornate covers and big spiral bounds. When I find myself in Borders, I make sure to stock up on the Moleskine journals in every color, shape, and size. I also sometimes prefer tiny blank pocket pads to stick in my jacket. I write everything down. Sometimes it will be a single word that I enjoy the sound of, other times it's full paragraphs of say...someone that I just saw planting flowers. Oh...and quotes. I'm BIG into quotes. That would explain my love of classical literature. The author's of today don't know how to write as eloquently as the author's of say...the sixteenth century (in my opinion).

Nevertheless, the notebook has been a writers' best friend for centurys. Research proves that writing is a healthy outlet for some. Sort of like petting a cat, or throwing brush strokes on an empty canvas. It allows for one to record dreams, goals, and heart strings. And there's nothing wrong with writing down your fears either. Look at your notebook as a legacy for future generations to find and get lost in.

Tell us about your favorite notebook.

Inspiration for Writers

Ahhhh, my fellow writers. We all need inspiration at one time or another. Some of us more so than others. I'd like to share with you some of my methods for collecting inspiration when I need it.

Scenery: This one is simple. Most of us writer's are trapped inside all day. Shut off your laptop and get up...for starters. Sitting makes you tired anyway. So stand up....stretch....then go outside and take in the greenery, the flowers, the leaves on the trees. Listen intently to the birds chirping, the water running, or the rain falling. Bring your favorite notebook and pen with you. If you're an artist, sketch something. If you're a writer, then take a moment to free write. Write whatever comes to mind. Don't allow for paragraphs or punctuation. Who cares if you have phrases rather than complete sentences. You can correct the writing later. For the time that you're outside...inhale deeply....and let yourself CREATE.

Listen: Again, turn off your computer. Allow yourself to listen to the SILENCE. Personally I love being alone....I revel in solitude. I love going shopping by myself, writing by myself, and going to the movies by myself. I think thats when you know your really happy with yourself when you can be alone and genuinely enjoy your own company. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and just listen to the silence. Have a notebook and pencil by your side and grab it as the creative juices start flowing. You'll be amazed at how a few minutes of alone time can spark new ideas.

Music: It's no secret that music in itself is an inspiration for many. I've yet to meet a person who doesn't find themselves in a creative mood while listening to music. I for one, enjoy classical music. It's one of the most inspiring genre's of music for me, but I'm open to suggestions for others. So, again, turn off your computer...walk away from it. Turn on some music...and maybe this time...you turn on a station that you don't normally listen to...or go to Border's and pick out a CD of an artist you've never heard of. Dare to step outside of your box when it comes to this....I'm sure that you won't be disappointed.

Calling Writers Who Want to be A Guest on My Blog!

Hello friends. This wonderful idea sprung into my head today and I think it's really going to help out potential writers and bloggers. Every week I'd like to start featuring a guest on my blog. These guests can be writers, bloggers, authors, et cetera on any genre.

If you're interested please either comment below this post, or send me an email through my website and we can get started. I'd like to post the first guest this Friday or Saturday (May 8 or 9). You can tell us about yourself in a short bio (100 words or less), tell us about your blog or website, what you do for a living, how you started, et cetera.

I foresee it as a great way to get your name and website out to the public. I'm happy to say that I've gained lots of readers since joining Michelle Rafter's blogathon and I feel like everyone that I've met has become a part of my "blog-family".

I'm looking forward to meeting new friends and fellow bloggers through this guest spot. Can't wait to hear from YOU.

For All You Freelancers Out There

In my never ending researching I do for my writing career, I happened to come across a great blog by Michelle Fabio. And I thought it would be a great time to share it with my readers during this blogathon considering that most of us are full or part time writers.

Michelle is a fellow freelance writer who moved to Italy. There's so much great writing information on her blog that I spent a good hour or so on her page and I thought that her special "FREELANCE WRITING WEEK" warranted a mention since it gave me some great ideas. It's always nice to see fellow freelancers helping us out. Some people tend to want to keep their "secret websites" and what not to themselves, but Michelle "opens up" and gives her reader's some great tips.

So grab a cup of coffee and stay a while on Michelle's site. From the looks of it, she puts a lot of work into it.

Do you have any great blogs or writing sites to share with us during the blogathon? A writer never knows everything about writing and should always be improving...so share with us your finds...I promise we all will appreciate it.

Lots of Editing

Sorry for the delay in posting yesterday. I was super busy with editing jobs that I had no brain left at the end of the day. To make up for the lack of a post yesterday, I will be posting two today. You may laugh, but it really weighed on my conscious yesterday that I didn't post during the blogathon. I signed up for the challenge and I intend to stick to it. Two posts today though...should make up for it....that's at least what I'm telling myself anyway.

I got to add some editing jobs to my portfolio yesterday which really excited me. I'm sure all you writer's out there, no matter how long you've been at your craft, still get excited to add new clients to your portfolio. It renews my sense of worth as a writer and editor, and it makes my long hours as a writer worthwhile.

Have any of you recently added new clients to your list? Tell us about it.

Thank Goodness for Bookstores

My weekend flew by. It was all about errands. I hit the super market, Borders, and a few other stops. I don't know about you, but every time I go to a bookstore I get lost for hours. I was in Borders for three hours today and it felt like a half an hour. I start off in the Literature section. I gaze at my favorite classic titles lovingly. Lolita, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare, Poe, Emerson, Whitman, and Lewis Carroll...just to name a few. Then I allow my eyes to graze over new titles and covers I've never seen and when one (or a few) catches my eye, my fingers strum through the pages. And more often than not, I add it to my basket. It finds a new home on my coffee table for a couple of weeks until I finish it then it accepts it's permanent home on my bookcase until I chose to lend it out to friends or reread it. 

From the Literature section I then stroll over to the Reference section to find the writer's instructional books. I'll grab one or two and then head over to the magazine section. Chose a few favorite literary journals and make my way to the cafe. Order my favorite beverage then find the biggest leather chair I can and get lost in the lines of my book choices. Sometimes I purchase the mags but mostly (to save a few bucks) I'll write down the website, if I don't already know it, and favorite the web page to reference in the future. Same goes for the writing books. I do purchase some but mostly I'll jot things down and add them to my writing journals.

And before I know it....my afternoon is shot. Honestly I enjoy my bookstore time and I prefer to go alone. It's a refuel for my soul. It's important to renew yourself weekly I think. Whether it's a steaming hot bath with a tall glass of red wine or a couple hours at a bookstore, finding yourself  BY YOURSELF is revitalizing. Try it sometime.

I Love Being A Mother...Even A Single One

I've never blogged about how much I adore being a mother. Now that I have gathered some readers (thanks to the blogathon I'm a part of) I feel it's time to open up about my self some so that my reader's can get to know me on more of a personal level.

First off, allow me to tell you about my son. He is turning three the end of July. His name is Anthony...not Tony...I don't enjoy nicknames all that much. He is a spitting image of me and I'm happy about that. I remember being pregnant with him and his father and I would go back and forth about who we thought he would look like. No one ever "won" of course. I would always say he was going to come out looking like me and Eric would say he was going to come out looking like him. When comparing my baby picture and my sons, you can't tell us apart. 

I enjoy gazing at my child and I do it often. I catch myself staring at him while we're sitting together, or when he falls asleep. And I mean STARING. Usually Anthony catches me and gives me the "Mom...why are you staring at me?". And, of course, for you moms with toddler boys out there....their speech isn't always clear at two and a half...so basically I can understand him clearly but no one else (other than immediate family) can. I love the soft curve of his face, his big, wide eyes. And his mile long eyelashes which are as black as night. Girls would kill to have such soft, full lashes....trust me...I know. His cute little fingers and toes which, by the way, are an exact replica of his father's hands and feet. But I'll have you know that my son's beautiful, soft, full, chestnut brown hair came from me (thank you very much). 

I love hearing him call me "mom", "ma", and "mommy" in that mellifluous little voice of his. And the way he hugs me so tight and gives me those sloppy, drool-filled, kisses of his. I'm sure all mothers would agree that we have to fight back tears of overwhelming love when we look into our children's eyes. There really is nothing like being a mother. I'm not sure how I lived my life before finding out that I was pregnant. I remember very clearly the day I took the home pregnancy test and realized in a nano-second that my life was about to change. 

From that instant on, my entire being changed. I thought about my son from that very second I knew I was making him. I was scared and nervous. I knew my life would change, obviously,  but not to what extent. And when I heard my newborn son cry for the first time and I looked lovingly at his tiny face when the nurses handed him to me, I knew that I would never love anything more in my entire life. All doubts and fears that I had about what kind of mother I would be drifted away to the place all fears go when you conquer them (wherever that may be). I was a mother from the moment of conception and I'm so happy Anthony chose me for his mother.

I am a thirty year old single mother. Eric and I are no longer together but he sees his son everyday and he's a wonderful father to Anthony. We don't fight or bicker or say mean things about each other. We respect each other as Anthony's parents because it isn't about us...it's about something MUCH more important...our child. Sure, we have disagreements, but what parent's don't? We don't love each other in the romantic sense anymore but we do love each other (as I'm sure parents can understand) for creating such a beautiful little soul together.

It's hard being a single mother, I'm not going to lie. But it's much more rewarding than hard. I wouldn't turn back the hands of time for anything. Anthony has shown me so much about myself and about life. He is an angel. And I couldn't be more proud to be his mother.

May Blogathon...Join Us!!

I have decided to partake in a blogathon for the month of May. There are no rules, per say.  You just have to write at least one post per day on your blog. This post can be about any topic and can be whatever length you choose. I happened to have come across Michelle Rafter’s blogathon post via my Google alerts and was delighted to join in. From what I’ve read on Michelle’s site, blogger’s from all genre’s take part and learn a great deal about just what blogging daily can do for your blog traffic….your website…etc.

For some of you reading this, this may be a challenge you wish to make personal rather than public. Perhaps you have a blog about your family and you blog about personal matters and dont want the whole word to know. That's just fine. May I suggest you then take the blogathon challenge in your own private way. Stick to the main rule (blogging daily about anything) and see where daily writing will take you. I’m sure all of us that are participating in this years blogathon will gain something from it. 

As a full time freelance writer/editor myself, I write daily already.  I don’t, however, keep up to date with my blog. I tend to write blog posts when I have time….or when a thought strikes me. As I’m sure you readers can see from the few posts my Horrible Sanity (if there’s any Edgar Allan Poe fans out there…you’ll get the title) blog has….they are completely random and do not at all follow any type of structure. So I’m happy to be a part of this challenge. I think, for me, it’s a challenge in a variety of ways. A mental challenge….in that I have to commit daily to updating my blog….a physical challenge….in that I have to schedule it in to my life and actually do it….and in some ways a personal challenge….I tend to be somewhat of a procrastinator at times. So committing to blogging daily for a month is a personal goal for me. 

I’m looking forward to this blogathon. And I hope those that are also participating are as well. Good luck fellow bloggers in our challenge. And may the force be with you.