Sort of Working At Home Mostly Mom

Could we hurry this up?

swahmmom — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:24:42 +0000

It seems like I have been sick forever. We had been fighting minor things for 6 weeks when I caught multiple yucky bugs that laid me out flat in mid-June. I’m still not completely recovered, but I sure wish my immune system would stop taking it’s sweet time. Mom sick days don’t really feel like real sick days where you can lay around feeling sorry for yourself. I still have to get up with kids and keep them somewhat entertained and fed, even if it’s with DVDs and string cheese & Cheerios.

The other stressor I’m dealing with is our impending move. We now have dates. The movers start coming in three weeks. Eek! My husband will be mostly gone until then, so organizing things is falling on me. I really hate moving. I just wish it was done already. And that someone else did all the work.

Which reminds me, it’s gonna be awhile before I can do any work for anyone else. I need to contact the magazine I was working with and let them know that. Unfortunately they sent a story idea a few weeks ago I had to turn down. It was a day trip that I just couldn’t have handled with the two kids by myself. Plus, I don’t think it was up my alley. I think someone with kids just a little older would be better. It’s lucky I did turn it down, because I got sick shortly after and there was just no way I would have done it before move stress set in. Still, they must need stories, so I need to let them know I won’t be able to write any for awhile. I also need to see if I can get them to send me my checks. Guess I’ll add that to my to do list. I better get to work on it…

Mission impossible?

swahmmom — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:48:32 +0000

I could be working right now. Kaplan called me for tutoring, but I had to turn them down. Actually, I still owe them a phone call turning them down. I should’ve emailed about story ideas, but one free weekend to enjoy has turned into two going on three. And they weren’t necessarily enjoyable. I simply don’t want to do anything.

The fact that my house is a cluttered mess is part of what’s weighing on me, but I think there’s something bigger that’s the root of the problem. After all, if clutter stopped me in my tracks, I’d never get anything done. Ever. Never ever. Instead, it’s a future problem, one most military spouses face at one time or another. An impending move with no when or where. I don’t even know if my husband will be around to help or if I’ll have to beg a family member from the mainland to fly out and help with the kids and logistics. It’s a problem that’s probably two months or more away, but there’s just so much to get done, it seems insurmountable. And the fact that there are no details nailed down makes it hard for me to buckle down and get to work.

It doesn’t help that preschool just ended and I don’t have a spot at the daycare anymore for the kids. It doesn’t help we’ve been fighting various illnesses and infections that make getting together with anyone we like difficult. (We can still get together with people we don’t like. We don’t care if they get sick.) It doesn’t help that naps are a battle and the house is in the “must get worse before it gets better” stage. Some of it at least. Some of it was worse to start with. It doesn’t help that I have no social outlets or me time because I never know when my husband will be around to help out so I can get out for them. I feel like if I could just do some regularly scheduled class or social gathering without stressing about finding a babysitter it would be something to look forward to. And working from home really doesn’t count. Not lately anyway.

Sometimes this life is just hard. It was hard with no kids and a job that I didn’t know when I should leave before a move. But now, knowing I have to get everything done with two kids possibly by myself, seems more difficult. At the moment it feels impossible. And it’s that feeling that’s keeping me from working. Hopefully I’ll get moving again soon. I’ll let you know what happens.

Phew!

swahmmom — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:04:19 +0000

I just sent the photography article – with photos. That was the fourth article I’ve written so far, and the easiest one by far. Why so easy? Well, there were very few differing opinions, I knew something about the subject (as do most people), and while the information is helpful, it isn’t going to change anyone’s mind so I didn’t worry so much about leaving things out. In fact, I got to a place where I was about to go on about another point or two, but said, “No, my word count says end now,” and it turned out to be an okay place to end.

I also sent photos for my diapering article in. We’ve all been sick a lot lately, so those were hard to get. Hopefully there’s something she can use there. As for the photography article, I think my do and don’t photos are pretty good. I wish I had a better photo for the headline, although I did give her some ideas if she has a stash of photos to pull from. The few I provided would be okay but not “Wow!”.

When I talked to her (the editor) on the phone the other day she said she had some more story ideas. I can email her when I’m ready for them. Hmm… Now that hubby is home, it’s much easier to get things done, but there’s a chance we’ll be moving in less than three months. Big move, not little move. Across the ocean, not across town. Still, I think I’ll email her in a week or so to see if she still has work. After all, it’d be better to do them now than in two months. But having a weekend where it feels like I’m done with all my work will be nice too.

One more behind me now

swahmmom — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:45:32 +0000

Hubby got home two days ago, so I was able to finish that article that was kicking my behind. That makes me laugh, because the article was about covering behinds – diapering to be exact. This was a tough one, because it’s information people may use to make a decision, so I wanted to include EVERYTHING. I did finally find a focus that I think worked, but it did end up running long, like 200 words or so. I have a tough time editing stuff out. Maybe I’m not cut out for this magazine writing thing.

The editor did give me until mid-May for the article I didn’t realize I was supposed to be working on. I guess she has to get the next three issues done by the end of May. Uffda! She did give me two experts to interview, and since these articles are supposed to be under 1000 words that’s probably enough in this instance. I should be able to get this done, no problem. As long as hubby doesn’t go out to sea again in the next two weeks. Since this one’s on photography, I also need to take some do and don’t photos. I hope my dos look good enough and my don’ts bad enough.

Uh-oh.

swahmmom — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:46:27 +0000

I got an email today from the editor I’ve been writing for. The subject was “Upcoming stories”. That’s a problem. I’m only working on one story for them that I knew of. And things have been super-crazy around here with my husband gone, so much so that I’m wondering how I’m going to complete this one. Now she wants two done by the end of the month. I think I’ll be emailing to explain there was a miscommunication (i.e. that I never was assigned the second article) and see if I can have a few extra weeks for that one.

Is it bottom or behind?

swahmmom — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:43:54 +0000

I’m trying not to say “butt” in front of my 2 year old, since she loves to use that word. So, the current article I’m working on is kicking my behind. I really, really hope things get easier when my husband comes home. This WAH/pseudo-single mom stuff is just too dang hard. Not much longer now.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

swahmmom — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:38:57 +0000

I finally had a chance to sit down and read my article after the kids went to bed. It wasn’t bad, but there were some changes made to it that I wasn’t exactly happy with. They left out one of the sources I talked to. In doing so, I feel like they introduced a slight informational error and a grammatical error. Grr! Not that I’ve never made a mistake myself, it’s just frustrating. I would’ve changed things if they had asked. Of course, I would’ve asked why and they would’ve said to make our advertisers happy, and, actually, I’m okay with that. I understand that publications have advertisers and I’m not writing hard-hitting investigative pieces. These are happy-go-lucky, rah-rah, advertiser-friendly service pieces. Still, I was going to send out a Woohoo! email to each of my sources and plaster this everywhere as my defining moment, for today anyway. Now I almost don’t want to claim it. What do I do?

I’m a published writer

swahmmom — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:32:53 +0000

Today is the first of April. The new Hawaii Parent came out with my article in it. I forgot. Luckily, my neighbor didn’t. She picked one up at her daughter’s daycare and brought it over after work. There, on page 26, was a photo of my husband and two kids (gee, they’re beautiful, you say) and the words ”by Joelle Jensen” in bright pink. Woohoo!

You can see it (for the next year, I think) at http://www.hidili.com/products/26140-Hawaii%20Parent/26140-info.html.

Row, row, row my photos…

swahmmom — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:07:07 +0000

I’m getting paid for my photos! I just got an email from the editor saying I could send an invoice for three photos for the swimming article. Does this make me a professional photographer too? That’s probably a bit of an overstatement, but it’s still exciting news. Especially because it’s increasing my pay for that article by 25% or so. And it was only one afternoon of work. (If you don’t count the many hours of thinking and worrying about it.) I think this is what they call in business circles ”a new revenue stream”. Well, I’ll merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily accept this dream!

Reaping the rewards of selfishness

swahmmom — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:50:15 +0000

In general, I enjoy writing because I really want to share information and educate people. That’s why I am getting into writing for magazines. I can also accomplish this through copywriting, especially if the client is interesting and customer-worthy. Yes, I like to write, but I also like to help people with my writing. Sounds a bit Pollyanna-ish when put that way, but there it is.

The thing is, I’ve also been writing for selfish purposes lately. Take this blog. I’ve supposedly set it up so, perhaps, someday when I’m as famous as, say, Malcolm Gladwell, people can look back on this and say, “Heck, she’s nothing special. I could do that.” (This is NOT what I say to myself when I read Mr. Gladwell’s work.) But, since that’s not very likely, my real reason for this blog is so I can write. I need to practice and put my writing out in a (potentially) public forum.

That’s also why I started posting to forums. I’ve always been a forum lurker, reading but only posting when no one else seemed able to advise on a question. But, since the beginning of this year, I’ve been trying to post more frequently and to write in my own voice. As practice. Essentially, I’m highjacking the forums for my own selfish reasons. And maybe, if my advice is good, someone else may also benefit. Actually, I hope my posts are helpful to others, but I don’t care about that as much as I used to. I’m simply trying to “put myself out there”.

Luckily, not everyone else is as selfish. Or maybe it’s lucky that they are, it that’s why they’re posting too.

Yesterday, I posted a brag about my first check on the Absolute write forums. My husband’s long distance reaction (on the webcam) was underwhelming, so I wanted to share my joy and earn some pats on the back from others. I was overwhelmed by the response. It ranged from been there-loved that to hope-to-join-you-soon. And, as a very special treat, Jenna Glatzer even took the time to make a congratulatory post. I’m looking at her book (which I bought years ago) right now, so her post is extra special to me.

Is it wrong that I’m reaping multiple rewards from acts which both share of myself and are selfish at the same time? I hope not, because sometimes it just feels good to be bad.