How do YOU measure your own success? Does it have to do with the balance in your bank account? Do you measure yourself against others? Are you waiting for your kids to succeed in order to confirm that you were successful? Or maybe you need to recognized by your peers to know you are successful. Yesterday I sat down with Angie Azur, and we batted that question around a bit.
Angie is a writer. She is a mom of two boys, a wife AND a writer. The question of success came about when we began discussing her current projects. She has penned several young adult novels, one is with a publisher in “revisions” the others are still making the rounds at various publishers. She has written articles which have been published in magazines. She is also working on a screenplay and a reality show treatment. She explained that the world of writing and publishing is a hard nut to crack and, as a writer, you have to be thick-skinned to deal with all of the letters of rejection that arrive in the mailbox. Continue reading
The book: Is there Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell is an amazing book for children aged 3-10. Each time I read it, I realize that this is a great book for adults as well as children. I particularly like the following passages:
This story is NOT about me- but I DO need to set the stage:
Recently, I was talking with a friend about how she balances her kids and work. Somehow our conversation took a turn to who we were before we were “mom” because those were times when guilt was not part of my vocabulary. I remember the adventuresome, spontaneous, well-rested gal who everyone used to call “K.B.” (short for Kristin Benz). I have been working to recapture my favorite parts of K.B. Not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of my kids and husband. The picture to the left is a picture of me when I was about 25. I was rafting on class 4 rapids with a bunch of people a barely knew. I am the second person back on the right side of the boat. I want my kids to know the fun adventuresome mom as well as they know the calm, reliable mom. 
If you have ever dreamed of owning your own business you will enjoy this story about Phyllis Calza. Phyllis started her career in education working with children as the Program Director for a reading intervention program. Her job was part of a special program that was funded by the state of California (back when there was money to spend). In 2002, the funding for this reading program was cut and Phyllis was left wondering what she wanted to do for a career. She and her husband wanted to start a family; but, just like so many of us, Phyllis didn’t get pregnant as easily as she had hoped. While she was in the midst of career decisions and trying to get pregnant, Phyllis realized that she would really like to start her own stationery and gift business. However the timing didn’t feel right because she was more focused on getting pregnant. So, she took a short break from working and wound up pregnant with her first child, Austin.