Hello again! Long time, no write. ;)
It will be awhile before I really get this blog up and running, but I wanted to put it out there that it will definitely lean towards the personal side. There will be elements of my business included, because my business is a huge part of my life, but it will come from a personal perspective. I'm all about being real and connecting with others in our "realness". I've never been good at keeping things black and white anyhow. There is lots of gray in my life! That being said, I hope everyone is able to get something, whether big or small, meaningful or pure entertainment, out of what I choose to share. :)
I am currently at the tail end of my busy season and up to my ears in editing. I truly enjoy editing. Anything that allows me to be creative is a good thing in my book. However, I also have a one year old. A charismatic, energetic, tornado through my house, loving one year old. Of my four kids, Keaton is by far the busiest (with his big sister coming in at a close second - either that or I'm now older and have less energy to keep up - ha!!). He propels up walls, thinks he can fly and loves to draw/color....on paper, tables, walls...himself. He can single handedly take apart an entire room in a matter of minutes.
It has made working at home a bit of a challenge. I try to come up with ideas to keep him busy while I edit. Coloring at my desk (translation: him coloring for 30 seconds and then handing me each and every crayon, color pencil, marker, wanting me to color with him, while he colors on himself. Eventually the box of art tools is ALWAYS dumped upside down all over the desk and floor). Snacks!! (Translation: Gold Fish crackers smashed into my carpet. Water flung across the room. Being hand fed half eaten food- okay that part is kinda cute, when not gross.) Moon sand (translation: pink sand smashed into the carpet with the gold fish crackers, resulting in daddy throwing away my daughters beloved birthday present). Books, train sets, puzzles, holding a mini basketball hoop with one hand, while editing with the other hand. The list is never ending, his attention span is not.
Some days I luck out and he takes a nice long afternoon nap. That gives me a few hours to grab a bite to eat and plug away in Lightroom. However more often than not, he finally falls asleep just before school gets out for my older three. As soon as they walk through the front door we have after school snacks, backpack inventory (geeze they bring home a lot of paper!) and the dreaded homework. Two of my kiddos are what some would classify as under the spectrum umbrella (I simply classify them as my kids ;) ). Certain routines must be followed. Easier tasks are more challenging, etc.
When all is said and done, my next chance at getting any work done is after bedtime and this is if I don't fall asleep, too! (Too many times I have nodded off during story time - and I'm the one reading!!)
I know I am one of many stay at home mom/photographers. It makes me wonder, how in the world do others do it? I'm torn with what to sacrifice, what to hold on to. My kids and family will always be #1, but my clients mean the world to me, too. I chose to turn my passion into a business, during a time when my family needed the extra money. Having two self employed adults in the house can be nerve wracking, but also very empowering. I am incredibly blessed that our endeavors have paid off (literally and figuratively!). Still, I sometimes wish for a pause button. Pause my kids from growing up so quickly, especially when I am not always there to see it. Pause my business and be able to un-pause right where I left off. Pause the kid tantrum, when I am so close to finishing a gallery or prepping a much awaited sneak peak. I want to be able to give myself fully to everyone, yet instead I find myself giving bits and pieces.
I mean really, what can we do?! We must become skilled jugglers (or at the very least mediocre ones) and figure out how our individual puzzles fit together. One day I WILL find my groove.
Until then, I will continue to plug away, praying to make the right choices, be thankful for all that I have, keep everyone smiling (or at least not crying) and still have my sanity when all is said and done. ;)
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