Tuesday 30 January 2018

Writing Mom Life

Jan 30, 2018

I'm hoping to write a quick post tonight. To be honest, I kind of want to be reading right now. My sister lent me a book that I can't put down. (But I have to put it down and parent.)

I've had a few bad days in the past two weeks. I've had good ones as well, but it's harder to move on from the bad days.

It's been tough to get back into the solo parenting routine. I haven't loved it, and I've been getting frustrated too easily. One day in particular, I felt like I was failing. I know I wasn't, but I just wanted to be doing so much better.


Side note: I've downloaded a audio book about peaceful parenting. Hopefully to help me take a breath when I need it. I'll write more about it when I finish it. 

I think I've just been a bit down lately. I hadn't been getting out of the house as much as I'd like because I just didn't have the energy. I've been feeling a little depressed. That's hard for me to admit because I don't want to fight that battle, or admit that I may need to fight it. It's also hard for me to admit because I think I should be happy simply because of my son. I feel guilty. I find this post fitting though because tomorrow is the Bell Let's Talk Day, and admitting I'm having a hard time does not make me weak.

However, it's something I have to deal with. I need to get back into my world of gratitude because that helps me the most. I'm lucky that the little things in life can help me. I know it's not like this for many.

So instead of focusing on the bad weeks, I'm going to focus on the great things.

  • First of all, I'm so grateful for being able to call Clint and talk to him through a video call. I love that Anthony gets to see his face as well as hear his voice. I love watching Anthony kiss his daddy through the phone screen. This would be so much harder on all of us if we didn't have that option.
  • I'm grateful for my sister helping me. She came over the other night, and after I fed us supper, she hung out with Anthony so I could take some time and have a bath. Basically, get clean without a baby with me. It felt silly, asking her to come over to have a bath. (To be clear, I do get clean, I just have time for quick showers though, and usually with a toddler.) However, I need to get better at asking for help. It's something else that's important for my mental health. Anthony LOVES his Auntie Jodi, so anytime he gets to spend with her is his best day ever. 
  • I'm grateful for friends who will stick up for me, and stick by me when I need it. 
  • I'm grateful for crafts and toddler activities because my toddler needs A LOT to keep him busy. 
  • I'm grateful that even with my mood not where I want it to be, and with parenting alone, I've still been able to write everyday. Even if it's just a journal entry.
  • I'm also grateful for my journal that I just pulled back out and have been writing in as much as I can. I've been writing in it for years and years, and this year, hopefully I'll finish it and be able to start a new one.
  • I am grateful for my mom. She came to help me out because I had a Writing Workshop planned for Saturday. However, she came on Friday and stayed until Monday, and it was absolutely wonderful to have some help. It was nice to let her take care of bedtimes for me, and to just take a small break. I miss her like crazy already, but already feel like the weekend of help has done so much. Bedtime is off and on. It hasn't been easy. Being able to step back, helped. Now I can get back to Solo Super Mom because of my own Super Mom. (And Super Grandma). 
  • I'm grateful that I was able to go to a novel writing workshop with Alice Kuipers on Saturday. I learned a lot. I was inspired. I am motivated. 
  • I'm grateful that my son (and my dog) make me laugh every single day. Hilarious duo. 
  • I'm grateful I have people who are reading my novel for me after the sixth(ish) edit. I'm also grateful for comments that keep me inspired and motivated to get it published. 
That's it. I just needed to be happy about my writing mom life. And I am. Sometimes, you just need a reminder.

Until next time.


“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:
and

Thursday 18 January 2018

Another Day Another Update

Jan 18, 2018,

Anthony is officially 20 months today. I want him to slow down, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to just saying he's 2. Not counting up the months.

That's not what this post is about. It was just the first thing that came to my mind.

This is my third post this month, and two of them were written in the first week. In other words, I'm not doing my best job at blogging. I guess I'm here now.

I have continued to write every day. I started editing my novel from the beginning at the start of December, and I finished on Sunday night. I'd say two months is pretty good. I'm proud of myself. This also included switching writing programs in the middle of it. The free word program I was using had issues with the spelling, and I was sick of fixing it. I switched to Scrivener (and paid for it). It's been a lot easier to keep myself organised. 

It felt really good to be done. I'm since made it into a manuscript, and sent it off to some new readers. I'm always a little nervous about sending it off for people to read, but it's always been good. Feedback is good, negative or positive.

One person has finished it already, and she texted me comments while reading it. I loved it. It's nice hearing people's thoughts on characters I've spent so much time with.

I'm still going to write every day (for 356 days), but for today, day 223, I'm choosing a blog post as my writing. Tomorrow, I'll get back to novel writing. I'm not touching the other one until all of my readers respond, so I'll be working on an unfinished one. (I've got two unfinished novels, both started during a Nanowrimo. Sadly, they both stop at about 50k.)

This is going to be a short post. I'm exhausted. Clint went to Ontario for work, and I've been solo parenting it since Monday. I've done it before, but it's been a while. Clint is great when he's home. The company is nice. The extra time to write is freaking fantastic.

It's 11. Anthony didn't go to sleep until a little before 10. He was up late, and it makes it hard for me to do anything else if he's up, and I need him to sleep. For my sanity.

Nap times haven't been much better. He's been fighting them like crazy since Monday. I'm guessing it has something to do with Clint being gone. He's been a daddy's boy for the last little while. In fact, I seem to be the only one he doesn't choose to come to lately. 

Either way, by the time I started this post, I was so tired, I ALMOST didn't pour myself a glass of wine. Don't worry though. I went and got one.

Between being a mom, writing, and trying to read, I haven't had a lot of time to do anything else. I try to clean the play area, and the kitchen every night. I've also been trying to organise our basement. It's going to be a major declutter project, but I haven't been spending a lot of time on it. Because I'm tired. However, there are boxes EVERYWHERE so I need to get on it.

(Also, I've been doing planks every day since the start of the month, and have done three days in a row on the elliptical. So far, I'm proud of my month progress.) 

That's my quick update. Writing Writing Writing. Crazy toddler, grumpy toddler, hyper toddler. They're the most important things. 

And of course because I take a million photos, here are a few of my January favourites.

Quick trip to Plenty to fill our freezer.

We made this!


Learning how to cut the wood on my own, since Clint will be gone for months.

Planking with a child on my back.

Big Boy bed!!!!
Coffee and toddler. Writing and wine.

Sad sad goodbyes.

Fun in a car. Basically his best day.

Toddler activities. 

Trying out zen parenting.

Books Books Books

Also every week, I'm taking one day away from social media. It's been lovely. Tomorrow is my social media strike. Next week it'll be Saturday. I think it's been good for me. I love social media - especially Instagram - but it's nice to take a break.

That's my month. And a quick update.

I'll be full of exciting news in my next post. 

Happy Thursday! 






“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:
and

Tuesday 2 January 2018

My 2017

Jan 2, 2018

I did my goals for 2018 yesterday. Today I want to talk about my 2017. I want to give it a send off.

First of all, I know that all around 2017 was a crappy year. It was hard on a lot of people. My heart hurts at some of the things that have been happening around the world. 

I was lucky. I got to be here. I got to watch my baby turn into a toddler. I got to watch the newest little love of my life continue to grow. 2017 was good to me, personally. Believe me when I say, I'm filled with gratitude for this. 

So here are 12 of my favourite things from the past year.

January:
I was so happy to find funny books about parenting. I bought about three or four of the 'how to Mom books.' I didn't finish any of them. I finished this one. I laughed A LOT. So thanks to all those funny moms who know they may not be doing things as others think they should be, but do it anyway. Brave Moms!


February

It was Anthony's first Valentine's Day. Someday, he may ask me to remove this photo. I will. January and February were tough months full of teething and crawling attempts. It was nice to be able to have some fun with him as well. (He wasn't so easy to pose. I think out of about 50 photos, this was the keeper.) He's ALMOST nine months here.

March:
The month where my kid never stopped moving. Once he got the hang of crawling, he never slowed down. This photo represents a lot. It's a photo taken at Fitbump. I go there to exercise. I went for prenatal classes, Mom and Baby, and now, when I can, I do Bootcamp with childcare. Anthony and I have been going since it opened, and it's just an amazing place. No judgement, lots of encouragement, and a whole tribe of awesome Momma friends who get it.

April
Non kid related. I took a workshop called Writerlicious, through the Saskatoon Writers Co-op. It motivated me to write write write. It was also an afternoon just for me. I haven't had as much time away from my baby as I should have. It felt nice to get out, and do something that was for me.
May
We had an entire year with our baby. He turned one on May 18th. This was his cake smash photo shoot with Appl Photo. It was an amazing first year. I also planned and executed his first birthday party on my own. Clint was away at work, and I was pretty proud of myself. It was a great day. A great month. A great year. 

June

I officially became a stay at home mom with no income in June. (I gave my notice in May). I have NOT regretted this decision once. (I fully admit I wish I was making my own money). In fact, I think it's why I'm writing more. It's motivated me to write for myself. I needed something that was mine. I am following my dream because I'm able to. Staying home with Anthony has allowed me to do what I've always wanted to do, but never had the courage to do - just write. (I also Mom). June was the month that I started to #writeeveryday. I'm on day 207, so I've done well. I was keeping track on Instagram, but I think I'll stop that soon. It's up to me, not the public to know how I'm doing.


July
My kid continued to amaze me. He's adventurous, he takes risks (more than I'd like), and he never runs out of energy. We did a lot during the summer. My sister and I (and Anthony) took summer road trips all around SK), and we were able to spend a lot of time with his Grandma and Grandpa on my side of the family. This is him walking with his Aunt and Grandma at Lake Diefenbaker on Canada Day. 

August

We spent a lot of time with friends this summer. Seeing all these photos, I miss it. It's been tough getting out of the house in this freezing cold (-50c with windchill on the coldest day) weather. We did exercise classes with friends. We played in water parks and regular parks with many different baby friend/grown up friends. I'm ridiculously lucky to know and to have met such great moms since Anthony has been born. And kept some that have always been there. Seriously, you guys. I'm so lucky. So is Anthony. By the way, I never noticed his farmer's tan until this very moment. This kid had sunscreen on ALL THE TIME. 

September
My first night away from Anthony. Happy birthday to me. I asked for it, and I got it. My mom got me a hotel room for the night AND babysat Anthony. (Although, I'm pretty sure the second part was also a gift to her.) It was my first night away from him, and it was a success. I missed him, but also I loved the silence. I read. I wrote. I watched TV. I ate food. I listened to music. I ran out of time to do it all. I also took a million hour shower.

October
We went to Ontario. Actually, we met Clint and Drogo there. We were reunited after he went for work. Ontario in October is gorgeous. We went for walks, we celebrated a friend's wedding, we had Thanksgiving with Clint's family. And we went on a boat ride. We spent time as a family and with our family. It was great watching Anthony with his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.


November
I conquered Nanowrimo. 50k in a month. 

December
Anthony's second Christmas. Lots of crafting. Lots of fun. Lots of writing. (Not so good are ALL the new teeth Anthony was getting, and still is. Does teething end?)



So that's my 2017. As you can see, family, my baby boy, and my new writing habits were highlights.

I wish everybody can have a 2018 as great as my 2017. (Including me.) 

As always, 
filled with gratitude,
E


“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:
and


Monday 1 January 2018

200 Days in a row of writing AND 2018!

Jan 1, 2018


I'm running out of time to write this, but want to get my New Year post written.

I think tomorrow, I'll do a quick goodbye to 2017. I know it should be done before this one, but that's okay.

Two things to talk about today. My writing and my 2018 goals. (They definitely overlap.)


Writing

I've now written 206 days in a row. No breaks. No excuses. Unlike my first 100 days, I actually feel like I'm accomplishing more. I feel like I'm a writer. I'm writing. I don't feel like I'm just trying to write because I'm making myself. I WANT to write. I want to finish editing. I really really WANT to be published. So badly. So so badly.

After I was done my 100 days, I wasn't sure what the end plan was. I didn't know how long I'd go. 

After 200 days, it is more clear. I'm going to write 356 days in a row. After that, I'll take a break. And then I'll start again. I can't stop for more than a day. If I do, I might forget how great it is, and I might not start again. The mind does weird things. I have to keep going.

In November, I wrote 50k in the month because I was participating in Nanowrimo. I started a new novel, but didn't finish it. I will. 

In December, I had to put that novel down. I started on page one of my finished novel, and I started editing. I counted how many words were left at the end of every day, and tried to edit no less than 1000 words. I think because of my Nanowrimo it was easy for me. I edited just over 50,000 in December.

Unfortunately, I have to count all the words myself. 


The great thing about this is that I can probably be done editing by the end of January. (Or the middle of February at the latest.)

After that, I'll start my next steps. First step is getting more test readers... any volunteers? Second step is finding an editor. Paying an editor to help me with anything I missed grammatically. (I'm guessing a lot). 

So basically, that's my last 200 days. They've been good. I'm super proud of myself. I didn't feel quite as optimistic after 100, but I'm feeling good now.

By the way: these were my thoughts after I had made it 100 days in a row writing: 100 Days

2018 Goals

As I've said before, I've never been a big fan of resolutions. However, I've been making goals for the past few years, and I've been doing really well. Some of these are just for January (we'll see how it goes), and others are for the year.

The Year
  • Write everyday. I've already discussed this. I don't need to say more. (Except for the one day break I'll take after a full year.)

  • Make a solid attempt at getting published. It's so time.

  • Be the best mom I can be. 

  • Swear just a tad less. Not a lot. But a tad. My kid's going to start repeating after Momma soon.

  • Patience. When I get angry, I need to remember how awesome my life is. Sometimes, I yell. Sometimes, I lose my patience. It's not fair to anybody. 

  • Don't be guilty when I lose my patience. Because sometimes I will. Don't get sucked in by the Mom guilt. My kid is loved a ridiculous amount. 

  • Make sure my child has a lot of play dates. No daycare means he has to learn how to be social and an all around sharing baby.

  • Teach Anthony that being nice is one of the most important things.

  • Volunteer.

  • Read. Read. Read. Read. Read. This year's goal is 40 books, but it doesn't matter if I read 40, as long as I'm reading. I'm not a writer if I'm not reading.

  • Continue my book blog, and post about what I'm reading. I'm a year behind.I haven't decided yet if I'll just start where I am, or try to catch up.

  • Craft. I actually really enjoyed my month of crafting. I want to continue being creative.

  • I want to see if I can sell my photos on wood. I want to make lovely things for people, and maybe make a tiny amount of money doing it. (Here is what I'm doing: Photos on Wood)
Just for the month (and maybe more)
30 Day Plank Challenge

And declutter my house. I have WAY too much stuff. I'm doing a 30 day Declutter my Life challenge I found on Pinterest. (Day one was get rid of five things. I chose this broken lamp that has been travelling with me since my Thailand trip, and four other things.)


Also I want to edit 1500 words a day at least. Hopefully more.


And that's it for today. Made it just before midnight. Stay tuned for my best of 2017.

Happy 2018!



“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

― Jane Yolen

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.


Also, check out my ongoing book blog:  Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/ 

I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
 http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/

Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:
and