What I Wanted to be When I Grew Up

THIS is why you don’t tell small children to smile. They end up looking like possessed little demons. Also, what the hell, mom?! Red and navy plaid with lime green ponytail holders?! What were you thinking?! 

I vaguely remember telling my mom I wanted to be either an astronaut or waitress. I was pretty little at the time – maybe four or five years old. I did actually work for a brief time as a waitress. It didn’t end well. 

But yeah, the astronaut thing never really panned out. Because math. And also, as it turns out, enclosed spaces and I don’t really get along.

When I got a little older, I wanted to do other things like be a professional singer. And a librarian. And a teacher. And costumer in a theatre. And a writer. And a mom.

College was a great time for me because I got to try out a lot of these things. I worked at the university’s childcare center and got to do some hands on teaching and lesson planning and also potty training, snot wiping, and all manner of other things. I also worked in the theatre where I did makeup and costuming. And while I loved the work and many of the people, there was just too much damn drama for me (pun intended) to make that my life’s work. After changing my major for the fourth time, I re-discovered my love of writing, and I knew for sure that I wanted to be a writer.

Of course, I got sidetracked by a lot of things on the way to making writing my career – okay, mostly motherhood and a world of self-doubt about my ability to write. Two awesome kids and a slew of mostly awesome (The Young Prince notwithstanding) daycare kids fulfilled my desire to mother and teach. I homeschooled one of my daycare kids when she was too distraught to continue with the kindergarten program.

When my son was three and my youngest daycare kiddo was two, I finally began writing, again. And I haven’t really stopped since. And in the end, I’ve spent the most time doing what I love best – momming and writing. Though, I’m pretty damn sure I haven’t grown up, yet. And, if I’m honest, I don’t really intend to.

Be sure to check out the other bloggers’ posts by clicking their names. Kayleigh, Jessica, Paige, and Gwen.