The MOTHER of Re-Invention
I’ve been in a crisis…a series, actually. It’s not that I’m offering excuses, but in effect I am.
For months, my life has been a whirlwind of clients, traveling, networking, workshops and speaking engagements. It’s been non-stop. Don’t get me wrong, the ride has been great. However, due to recent events, the ride has become the equivalent of a merry-go-round run by a crazy “carnie” who won’t let you off. (If you’ve been to a fair in Chalmette, LA then you’ll understand where I’m coming from!)
That’s the point where I’m at…I’m dizzy, nauseated and OVER the ride. THIS particular ride, that is.
Somehow over this past year and a half, I’ve become someone I don’t recognize. It’s forced. Un-natural. EXHAUSTING! In all this effort to find a niche, a market…I forgot about what brought me here in the first place. The “WHY” I became a work-at-home/stay-at-home mom. The stress of it all has effected my health physically, emotionally and spiritually.
A few months back my body decided to get off the ride. My fibromyalgia and lupus flared to the point that one morning I woke up and had lost function in my left arm. (I’m left-handed people!!!) Seriously? I couldn’t FAKE being fine with one arm. And slowly the realization came that my body was manifesting what my mind had known all along. I couldn’t keep up the pace with a life that I did not want. Our bodies are intuitive like that.
So, I’ve been on hiatus. I’ve had to tell the over-achiever in me to “Shut UP!”. I’ve been forced to say no to many things. It’s been hard and easy at the same time. And you know what? I’ve never been more content with any other decision. Because. I. Matter!
This past week, my Dad has been critically ill while hospitalized at the VA. (Another issue to tackle at a later date.) It’s made this whole re-invention crisis seem rather small in the face of what matters most. Family.
So, here I go again. Deciding what to be now that I’m all grown up. THIS time, I’m putting first things first and doing it all on MY terms. Reminding myself as often as necessary WHY and WHO I’m doing this for. Regardless of where the road takes me, I hope you’ll come along for the ride. (And I promise, you can get off any time that you like.) It’s bound to be hard, scary and crazy–but that’s me…the MOTHER of re-invention.
***Here’s my WHY***
CBC Continuation: Finding TIME for SM (Social Media)
I’m still chatting with Jamie from Profitable Mommy Blogging. In her last post, Jamie asked:
How do YOU keep twitter from being a disctraction? Or, just social networking in general? We know it’s important to grow our business, but how much is too much?
Great questions! One of the first things I figured out when I became a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) almost 7 years ago was that I really needed to manage my time well in order to get things done. Back then, the whole social media game was really just beginning–it didn’t even have that COOL title! The “action” at that time was on message boards and in chat rooms. Talk about getting lost in a back whole! lol… Read more
Socially Speaking: CBC Continued with Jamie
Tag..I’m it!
This is a continuation of my CBC with Jamie at Profitable Mommy Blogging. If you’re just getting here, you should follow our conversation from the beginning to catch up.
In her last post, Jamie commented:
I noticed your site has a free ebook. How important is it to a site like yours to offer a free giveaway like that? Is that something moms should do with their blog in order to build a following or get a good email list for newsletters and such?
And, since it’s about social networking… what’s your FAVORITE way to social network? Read more
Cross Blog Conversation (CBC) with Profitable Mommy Blogging
I’m so excited to let you know that I’ve been engaged in a cross blog conversation.
What is THAT, you ask? Well, it’s when two bloggers converse back and forth, each from their own blog. So, my readers, you’ll get a chance to follow my conversation (and follow another FAB blog!) with Jamie of Profitable Mommy Blogging.
Jamie started the conversation off with the following:
So, Edie-My question for you is this:
I noticed you have a mix of both pleasure and business on your blog. Occaosinally you mention a proud mommy moment, but mostly you talk about the things that matter to those momies out there wanting to make cash with their blogs. How do you decide your balance for those sorts of posts? Do you have a system, or do you just sort of go for it? Read more
The Multitasking Myth
There’s a television show called Myth Busters where a team of scientists take commonly held myths and determine if they can be BUSTED–or proven false. Recently, I had a little case of my own.
A friend of mine, Steve Scott, shared a powerful message at a networking meeting a few weeks ago and I wanted to share it and the impact it has had on me in hopes that it may do the same for you.
For years, I’ve lived with a fallacy that multitasking means that one is highly productive because of the ability to perform many things at once. If the truth be told, I’ve also held the belief that women are innately superior in this area. Let me see if any of this sounds familiar to you… Read more
The BEST EVER Internet Marketing Book for Moms!
I had the privilege of completing a 10 week internship with Kelly McCausey the guru of the Moms Talk Network. Although I’ve been blogging for years, I took this opportunity b/c of a Tweet Kelly made calling for interns. Her proposal? Give me 10 weeks and I’ll give you the BEST blogging education of your life! And she SO delivered on that promise.
Things are going to get even BETTER here at my blog largely because of Kelly’s expertise.
In my former life, when I was heavily involved in direct sales, I purchased numerous information products through the Moms Talk Network and loved them all. Kelly has taken MTN to a whole new level with her new book, “The Complete Internet Marketing Moms Start Up Guide”.
If you’re just getting started with internet marketing, you NEED this book. If you’re “STUCK” with your marketing efforts, you NEED this book. If you want MORE success than you have now, you NEED this book. And if you’re smart enough to follow Kelly too on Twitter (@kellymccausey) you just might be lucky enough to get picked the next time she does an internship.
Click the book image below to learn more and purchase this great resource! You won’t be sorry!
A Virtual High Five Is In Order!
I’m not one to toot my own horn, but it’s not every day that you get featured on the blogosphere! Alexis Neely is a family lawyer, an author, a blogger, a single mother and an all around “MOXIE” kind of girl.
She started a “Having it All and Doing it All” series on her blog and sent a call out on Twitter for applicants. So, I responded with my “little” story and thought nothing more about it.
And guess who her FIRST featured mom is???
ME!
I can’t believe it. I’m honored and humbled and hope that ONE mom gets a least ONE thing from my story.
Thanks for letting me give a “virtual” High Five to myself. 
