How To Be A Write At Home Mom (Tip 1 of 10)

I love writing. Being a freelance writer not only allows me to stay at home with my children, but gives me a chance to get my voice out in the world, published, and seen by an endless amount of people. I've also been working on a novel for the past year, and seeing it come together has been something beyond amazing.

Bad Breathe Morning

I've co-slept with my daughters since they were born. It was just easier on me, the first one being brestfed and the second one using a bottle, they were both easier. Plus I have always been a worry wart and would  spend the night traveling back and forth from crib to bed.

Identity Crisis On Twitter

Struggling to find an identity is very common place when it comes to mothers. It can get even more complicated when it comes to Social Media Moms. For me, the problem has been the number of identities I think I can take on in social media. Not only have I started as a freelance writer, but I've gone to working with businesses, to writing ebooks, to just joining blogging communities online.

You have to sit there and really figure out who you are and where you fall into place.

The other day I was looking at my Twitter profile page, something I have not done in months, and I thought my description looked a little bit all over the place. I sat here at my desk and for the next hour, typed, backspaced, and typed again. I couldn't figure out how I wanted to describe myself to other people on the World Wide Web.

* If you look now at my Twitter account you'll see that I couldn't figure out what to change it to, so the same it remains!

To some people I am the local Mommy Blogger, to other's, I am their Social Media Mentor, while to most people who only occasionally visit my social networks, I'm the woman who write funny articles for their favorite blogs.

Do you struggle with an identity crisis when it comes to the Internet? What are some of your tips to working around it?

Trying (And Failing) As A Working Mommy

I contribute to our family income by working online. While I do have ebooks for sale and online courses, I focus my time on freelance writing, writing my own novel, and working with other people.

Last month though, we, or shall I say "I", was going through a flurry realizing how much debt I built up before I had children. I mean, when I turned 18 (and this was before that whole economy crash things and financing companies approved everyone) I maxed out every credit card that any major network or department store could give me. Seeing all that debt is super scary also considering the fact that we are trying to buy our own home very soon. I am more than positive my credit score is a negative -500990909.

Anywho, instead of putting my time into figuring out how to make money while still staying at home with the girls, I searched for a "real" job. I landed an awesome job, little work, modest hourly pay, and went to the store to find some work clothes to be an assistant to a sales manager selling newly built homes.

The one catch? Being gone all day from my children 30 hours a week. Which really does not seem like a lot, but I also had to work all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Every weekend.

Saying that I had separation anxiety from my children would be a huge understatement. Going from 24/7 with my kids, to a couple of hours a day drove me insane. I was angry and depressed.

Finally my husband just said, "Quit if you want to? Your always so angry at me anyway."

:)

This was the first time, and very short time, that I held an outside job since I've had both children. Sure I loved being able to get out of the house and talk to adults, but the fact that I knew all the fun things I could be doing with my kids: park, Chuck E Cheese, feeding ducks, laughing at books at the library, I started feeling depressed.

Plus our house was a different story. Clothes piled up, dirty floors, and I couldn't remember the last time I cooked a meal, for anyone.

I also know that it is different when you have kids who go to school during the day. I think working outside of the home wouldn't phase me as much if my kids were at school, but being now that they are only 4 and 1, I feel like this is the only time I have with them. When they do start school, they will be gone everyday, 8am - 3pm, Monday-Friday, for what could really be the rest of their lives.

with Addy, the youngest

This time in their lives is really all that we will have, and a once in a lifetime chance for a mother to teach their children those little things.

Luckily for me, my husband owns his own business and the more I can make it easier for him with the kids and the home (eliminating childcare costs, etc) the more he can work and make it so that I don't have to work outside of the home. Also luckily for me, he doesn't have to be gone all day everyday if I need him to be home, go to appointments, soccer games, etc. I'm thankful for his entrepreneur spirit.

Point is, working mothers are outstanding. I know that there is all this slack "work at home mothers and stay at home mothers work hard too, and yada yada yada" But when mothers have to work outside of the home, the mental stress and the weight put on your shoulders is tremendous. I have a new appreciation for all the mothers out there.

As for me, maybe I'll venture into the outside working world one day when our youngest goes to school, but for now, expect some new products from me from The Art of Social Media.

:)

So I Quit Work And Went To The Zoo

More info coming soon, but we had a blast today! :)

*Quick Note: I know that some of my pictures are showing up as black squares, those will be fixed by this evening so bear with me :)

I'm So Sorry Wall

When you give an Addy a marker

The Joy of Volunteering

Growing up, we didn't really make it to many events. Come to think of it, I don't there were many kids events like we have now. We did frequently go to the Zoo, The Kids Museum, and did plenty of traveling. My mom was very adamant about getting us out living life.

One thing we didn't really do was volunteer for stuff. It's not that anyone in my family was against it, it's just that we didn't know where to volunteer where it would be safe for kids and what to do.

With my children, I can honestly say there are spoiled. They are spoiled because really that's how we were brought up as well: getting whatever we wanted. My mother though, was quick to let us know that she works very hard to make our life great, and it's something that my sisters and I understood. When she said no, she really meant it.

Me on the other hand, I'm quick to give give give, yet my daughter who will be 5 next month doesn't quite get the concept of other people's situations. I have not found that assertive tone my mother had that let us know that we are lucky and that other people are not as lucky. She taught us to be appreciative and to never take anything for granted. Most importantly she taught us that we should never look to ourselves as being better than anyone else. We are all the same.

Sure Truly may be too young to understand, but I'd like to understand the feeling of helping other people is also a really good feeling.

I hope that makes sense.

I've been looking into a lot of different activities and events here in San Antonio and the results were pretty tremendous. From art festivals, to outdoor activities, it seems like everyone is needing volunteers and everyone is happy letting children volunteer with their parents.

Next weekend, my daughter and I will be volunteering at Luminaria, an arts festival that goes on downtown in our city. We will be working in the Kids Arts & Crafts area.

Not only do we get free t-shirts, but a fun activity, mother and daughter, for free!!!

Do you volunteer with your kids? How does it work for you?