Always a Mom First

If someone asks you to tell a little about yourself, what is the first thing you will say?  Some might say their name, and I guess that is always a safe place to start, but after that, there are many choices.  You can talk about being married, or maybe what you do for a living, or where you live.  But if you have kids, you will probably say that you are a mother.  Mother, mom, mama, you pick the word.  I noticed at my blog class last night that as we introduced ourselves, those of us who have kids stated that first thing, some mentioned ages, some spoke with a smile, some with more of an exhausted expression of resignation.  Once I knew they were moms, whatever their attitude, I immediately felt a kinship; like we should sit on one side of the room across from the young ladies who were at the class to learn about business blogs; they were wearing chic clothes and had cute haircuts.  I think I might have even been like them in my old life, but now I am "just" a mom, wearing old Levis I've had forever and shabby clogs that I can't bear to retire as they fit my feet like slippers.  The moms want to blog for fun, or to give them a creative outlet.  Some used to work in creative fields like architecture or publishing, and a blog is a way to step back into "work" without working.  The instructor, a handsome young man, maybe in his 30's, reminds us that blogging brings immediate gratification, as opposed to a book that requires editing, submitting, rejections, more editing, etc.  With a blog, you write, click "post" and walk away to continue on with your day.  One thing accomplished in a long list of to-do's you might have written that morning.  For a mom, to accomplish something is a victory.  So much of what we are focused on is a work in progress, never really complete.  Housework, cooking, errands, raising children.  There is no finish line, just baby steps to an elusive end game.  But the blog is something we can control, and that is a real gift.  We can determine the topic, the length, whether we want to approach it with humor or gravity.  I woke up this morning and thought of the blog I had created the night before.  It made me happy, and I looked forward to posting once the boys left for school.  We all need a new toy now and then!