Tricycles and Semi Trucks

To those who think they 'know' what my life is like becuase they've 'met' a person with autism... to those who think they know because they know me, and have met my children... especially to those who've yet to have children of their own...

There is a point when a child is only 5 weeks old, when the new has become painful. When you're woken by a cry for the thrid time that night, and it's only midnight. When you feel like you will never be allowed to sleep again. When you think bright yellow cottage cheeze-looking poop is the worst thing you have ever smelled in your life and you don't think you'll ever get away from it. There is that point. Take heart in the fact that this, all of this, will pass. Eventually it will end. Feel blessed.

Now, when you are sitting there at 2am, trying to think of this, think of me. Think of my friends who have children with disabilities. Think of all the smart mouthed know it all crap you said to us. Then realize, truely realize that this point will pass for you, but it will never pass for us. For us it is forever.  It does not end. As our kids grow older one issue is simply swapped out for another. The sleepless nights don't go away. We know that newborn baby poop is not the worst smelling thing in the world. We don't hold tinly little bundles who can't stop crying and we don't know why. We hold fully grown bundles who can't stop crying and can't explain why.

In that moment, picture in your mind a tricycle with a cute squeeky little horn. Picture yourself sitting on that tricycle tooting that horn. Then look up. I was the armored semi truck in front of you. I was the one who your were sqeezing your little horn at while insiting the road was yours. Now realize exactly how close you came to getting squished, and be thankfull.

Be very, very thankfull.

Chasing issues into new opportunities

Since we moved to Chino Valley last Fall, it seems like we've been chasing one emergency after another. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, living here on the farm, but I honestly didn't expect to run into some of the issues we did.

The plumming problems, that generated great debates on Facebook, were sort of expected. I knew that the septic tank was going to have to be emptied soon, but replacing both toilets at the same time was added, and unwanted, bonus I didn't expect. It wouldn't have been a major issue if not for another, very big issue that we had just started dealing with at the time.

My husband had no problem finding a job when we moved up here. Life was good for about the first 3 months. Then work started slacking off and the paychecks got smaller and smaller and smaller. Then, in Early December, they just stopped. There was no work to be done, and he wasn't getting any hours. Now my husband is in the agnozing limbo of being technically employed but not having a job. His line of work... heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)... is very 'feast or famine', b ut I've never seen a famine period like this. Ever. He's doing it for 11 years and he's never gone 6 weeks without work. The longest period before was 3 weeks, and that was considered bad.

So, we have only my income to live on, which currently isn't much. I was barely paying our insurance permiums, forget food and other bills. We agreed when we got married that my primary occupation was Mom, and any money I made would be suplimental. There was a period, several years ago, where I had to break out my college education and be the primary breadwinner while my husband expanded is own, but again, that was expected. And something we had agreed on. This time it was a surprise.

So, I've been exapnding my portfolio and picking up new writing gigs. It takes time to generate an increase in income when you're a writer. You have to build networks and fan bases for your new gigs. You have to really get involved with your new publisher and learn their moods and demands. Then there's sharpening your skills in your new beat or topic...

I've been writing about food for years. I love cooking, food gardening, etc; plus I home-ec as an after school class to kids in the neighborhood when we lived in Phoenix. The topic was a good fit. Then.

Now, I find myself a bit tired of writing about food and cooking. So, when I was looking for new writing opportunities I decided to take advantage of a standing publisher and ask for a whole new topic. One I've always found exciting, but didn't have the opportunity to give it much attention: promoting what to do in Prescott and the Prescott area, my home town. Now I live here again, and the world is wide open to me. Examiner.com seemed to agree, becasue they gave me a new topic: Prescott Places and Faces Examiner. (click the link and check it out!)

I've only been at it a few days, so I'm still broke, but, I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm excited about writing periodicals again. I can always write books (my first love), but books take years to come to fruition. Someday I'll be able to live off the money I make from them, but that day is not today. Today periodicals pay the bills. So, periodicals it is.

My goal now? To make enough money to pay mygrandmother back for the new toilets. Back to work with me!