Links to my other blogger blogs

Links to my blogs:

Parents Global

www.parentsglobal.com

Prepared Living Blog

www.preparedliving.blogspot.com

Chasing The Answer

www.chasingtheanswer.blogspot.com

My Favorite Music(stuff i listen to while writing)

www.juliesmusicblog.blogspot.com

Everything is sorely behind, but I'll be catching up!

Cluttered!

Hey all,

I'm aware that the sidebars look cluttered. Please excuse the mess as I try to clean up things here.

What do you think of the new template? I think I've found one I really love!

Tattoo'd Mommy

I wrote the following a year or two ago in answer to a call for submissions on explaining tattoos to your kids. It wasn't accepted, but I like it.

“Mom, why is there a snake on your arm?”

My five year old sat curled by my side, inspecting my bicep. “It's on a flower.” A chubby finger traced the outline.

“It's a tattoo, baby.”

I couldn't help but smile when she asked me, “What's a 'too?” My princess' big brown eyes widened when I explained that the picture she was tracing was going to be there forever. I assured her multiple times that yes, forever really meant forever. To a five year old, forever might be a few minutes or it might just be until next week.

Her questions reminded me a bit of when my own mother had posed when she first saw my tattoo. Without the chastisement, though. My daughter had a genuine interest while my mother could only express shock. I didn't mind answering my little girl when she wanted to know why I chose a snake or why the tattoo was so big.

The picture is of a black snake twined around a black and pink tinged rose. It is around six inches in length and covers a scar. To me, the choice between wearing a scar for the rest of my life or a tattoo to cover it, was clear. These days I forget there is even a scar under the tattoo unless someone asks me why I would chose such a large design.

Explaining this to my daughter was easy. I learned a long time ago that children are the happiest when they receive simple, straight forward answers. Too much complexity confuses them. I'm not a politician, I'm a mom and clouding the issue isn't my style.

“Mommy, does it hurt to get a 'too?”

“Yes, sweetie. It does hurt some.”

She rubs my arm and puts her cheek to the tattoo. “Poor mommy. Does it hurt now?”

“Ha, no baby, that was a long time ago and it didn't hurt bad.” Her hair is soft and tickles my cheek when I snuggle her closer. “It's O.K., because mommy wanted to get the tattoo. It's all better now, but you're so sweet.”

“Can I get a 'too?”

I hadn't expected her to ask that. Yes, I have a good idea of what goes through the mind of a child. They want to be just like mommy or daddy. Still, the hypocrite in me rebelled against the idea that my baby would ever get ink. In an effort to beat the monster in my mind down- my mother- I told her... “If you still want a tattoo when you are all grown up, you can have one.” I didn't add in 'and if mommy lets you.'

I can't control her choices. My mother could not control mine. Heck, I am lucky if my daughter decides that picking up her toys when I ask is a good idea. But today, she was happy. Her finger still traced the petals of my rose.

“Mommy, I like your 'too.”

“So do I, baby. So do I.”

Updating the blog- changes

I haven't updated this blog in months. There are plenty of reasons for this- some sad and some from the happy end of the emotional spectrum. When I began Not Enough Coffee it was to be a blog that followed my journey into freelancing. Maybe offer some advice as I learned and chronicle the humorous aspects of working from home.

What happened was that N.E.C. evolved into a glimpse of my life. I never really opened up enough to share my whole being...for that there was contemplation on opening another, more private blog that was invitation only.

As of late I have been toying with an idea to open other blogs, but my mind keeps turning back here. Why open another (or several) for my interests? For my journey into sustainability? For showing off the DirtMonkies in all of their glory? Too many blogs to keep up with when chasing a herd of Monkies, being domestic, and trying to fulfill all of my professional obligations.

Part of the problem was being worried what potential clients would think of me. Do I really want Mr.NeedsAnArticle to come across a story about how the baby had a blowout? Perhaps Mr. NeedsAnArticle would think less of me when he (or to be fair, she) saw that I almost had a breakdown when my antidepressant prescription ran out and needed to be filled.

Right now, I'm at the point in my life where it doesn't matter. I have some wonderful clients that accept me for who I am. Sometimes funny, always weird, but on deadline (mostly!)and attentive to their needs(always!). If someone passes me by based on a personal blog that isn't full of perversion and profanity, then we probably wouldn't have worked well together. That doesn't mean either of us are bad, just not right for a working relationship.

So I've decided to open up and fill this blog with...me. The real me. From freelancing to fiction to my dream to move back to the country. I'm feeling this pull to go back to my roots. In my family the roots run deep in rural living. I'm no exception and have to admit that after nearly a decade of city living, my entire being feels dusty and ready to be washed in the crystal clean air of a mountain range.

I'll try to keep up and keep a log of everything I (we/my family) does to make our dreams come true. This blog is going to get a facelift and the changes will likely reflect the inner changes I'm dealing with. I hope my friends and other followers will come along for the ride and also forgive me in advance for when my mind wanders away from the blog.