Author Archives: Mindy Long / @mindywrites

Skipping Happy Hour

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When you’re building a business around your kids’ schedules, you spend every night and weekend working—at least I do. That means I frequently find myself having to turn down fun invitations from friends. Just this week I had to make apologies several times because of work responsibilities. 
 
The hours between 8 p.m. (bedtime at our house) and midnight are precious. I write stories based on interviews I wrapped up during business hours, reply to email and review my calendar for the day ahead. While a happy hour or night out with girlfriends would be far more fun, I know I have to stay focused on my business (and the four upcoming deadlines on my calendar) to make it a success. 
 
When I first started freelancing, I found myself being a tad resentful from time to time, but I’ve shifted my attitude and find myself repeating some words of wisdom my grandpa passed on—the chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment. 
 
Tonight when I sit at my desk reviewing notes and working on a feature about fuel, I may find myself wishing I was sipping a glass of wine with girlfriends, but I will also know that I am working toward my ultimate goal of building a career while raising my family. Careers are built one story and one day at a time. At this point in my life, I work nights so I can enjoy the days with my little ones. One day soon that will shift, and I’m eager to see what my career and my kids look like as a result of the time I am investing in them both now. 
 
*Photo by Roger Kirby courtesy of istockphoto. 

 

A Kid Favorite: Tails

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Both of my kids love Tails by Matthew Van Fleet. Evan has been a fan of the book since he turned one and now Madelyn is following in his footsteps. She loves the hands-on textures and gets so excited when she gets the book all to herself. That, of course, only happens when Evan is at school. 



They both love it so much that I’m thinking of buying a second copy!  

Waving Goodbye to Daddy

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If you’re in my living room at 8:00 a.m. on a weekday, this is the view that you’ll see. 

These two little ones stand at the door, waving and watching intently until their daddy’s car is out of view. Evan usually calls Bryan back two or three times. "Daddy, I just have one more thing to tell you," he says. Then he quickly makes something up. "The trees have leaves," he’ll say with a grin. "Wait, now I have something to give you." Then he wraps his arms around his dad’s legs, which sometimes gets peanut butter on Bryan’s pants. It all depends on whether or not Evan has had breakfast yet. The whole routine usually delays Bryan by at least ten minutes, but it is pretty cute to watch. It also makes me grateful that instead of commuting in D.C. traffic, I spend the next hour getting the kids dressed, packing Evan’s lunch and taking a five-minute drive to the church where Evan goes to preschool. It sure beats sitting in traffic. Being able to ditch my morning drive time is definitely one of the top five reasons I love working from home.  

A Favorite Blog

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Do you read the Nie Nie Dialogues—a blog by Stephanie Nielson? I’m a fan. In case you don’t follow Stephanie, she is a mom, a blogger and a burn survivor. I find her totally inspiring. It could be because my nephew is a burn survivor. I witnessed with lots of love and tears the ups and downs that take place in the burn unit. When I first started reading Nie Nie, all I could think about was my own family’s reaction to those first tragic days and months after my nephew’s accident. Nothing can prepare you for such a life-changing event.

I think the thing I like most about Nie Nie’s blog is that she reminds me of the simple joys we should savor in life. She literally fought for her life so she could hug her little ones and be there to make them lunch in the morning. It puts things in perspective for me. I take for granted how easy it is to give my kiddos a bath or cart them around for a piggyback ride. Check out Stephanie talking about caring for her kids on Oprah. 

Tomorrow night 20/20 is doing a story on Stephanie. Are you planning to watch? I will be. I’ll be thinking of my nephew and what it was like to sleep on a cot in the burn unit by his side. I’ll be thinking of my kids and how happy I am I get to mother them every day, and I’m sure I’ll be crying. 

 

The Magic of Disney

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“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

I am still reeling from the excitement of our Disney trip earlier this month. I love Disney and find the entire experience of stepping into a Disney theme park completely inspiring. It is a hustling and bustling testament to what one can achieve by chasing his or her dreams. Walt Disney trusted his instinct and invested himself in the projects he believed in. An impressive empire has grown out of Mr. Disney’s imagination.
 
I love his quote,  “If you can dream it, you can do it.” I left Magic Kingdom thinking about my own dreams and the steps I need to take to achieve them. I also love being inspired, and Disney served that purpose for me this month. How about you? Where do you find your inspiration? 

A Fresh Start

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Happy Monday! I am excited to start a new week. Even though I’m sleep deprived and still sorting through how I am going to conquer my to-do list this week, I am looking forward to what Spring has to offer. Easter always marks a time of new beginnings and I am feeling completely inspired in my writing life as of late. I have several exciting work projects on the horizon and three features just waiting in the queue to be published. Hooray!

During my inadvertent blog-cation, I crafted up several post ideas in my head, survived (and enjoyed) a family trip to Disney World (pictured above), and I put the finishing touches on those features that are going to be published in the coming weeks.

I hope your Easter was as fun-filled as ours was and that you’re settling back into a routine. It’s always nice, isn’t it?

Living in the Moment

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There are a handful of quotes and book passages that I think of often during different life moments. When it comes to mothering, this quote from Anna Quindlen is always in my mind:

"The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while [mothering]. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."

Building a writing career while raising a family often has me running in multiple directions. I’m sure I’m not alone. It is in the harried moments—the times I find myself rushing from one thing to the next or even wishing no one in my family actually required food—that I find a sense of calm by thinking of Quindlen’s quote. It helps me find greater perspective and embrace the moment—even if both kids are going crazy, my e-mail is exploding and an editor’s name is popping up on my caller ID. I just take a deep breath, look at my kiddos and remind myself that one day I will wish I could remember the details of our days.

Then I pull my iPhone out of my pocket and snap a picture. I know the images that burn so bright in my mind today will fade with time and I want to do everything I can to help remember these precious moments—even if it is with an imperfect iPhone photo. 

 

Our Current Simple Joys

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Packing peanuts:: Well—at least one of us is enjoying them.

Reading:: I picked up a novel for the first time in a long time and it is making me remember why I love the written word.

Popcorn:: The hubby and I have been devouring a bowl every night—with butter. Now if I could just figure out why my jeans are a little snug…

Thoughts of Spring:: Daffodils, crocuses and tulips are starting to peak through the soil in our yard assuring us Spring is on its way.

A new Sleep Number bed:: When you only get five hours of sleep a night (in 2.5-hour blocks) they better be good! Right now my magic number appears to be 35.

The weekend:: We are in dire need of some weekending around here. This one appears to include a mother-son movie date, cookie baking and (unfortunately) piles of laundry. Oh, and some sweeping (see related entry above on packing peanuts). 

What are your current simple joys? Please share!