When California went into Covid Lock-Down, almost exactly one year ago now, I felt like life came to a halt. We cancelled our St. Patrick's Day dinner with my in-laws. We moved church services to "on-line." We stopped getting together with our friends.
But, though life slowed down considerably, life didn't stop altogether, especially in my busy household. We found ways to keep ourselves busy, and I actually enjoyed having more time with my children.
This past year has been a gift to me, and a side product of my extra time with my family is my new book, "Dirtying My Sleeves." The book was in its infancy stage at the start of 2020; I figured it would take me several years to finish it. Then, when I suddenly found myself with extra time at home, I discovered that it was just what I needed to think, ponder, observe, research, and finish writing this book.
So I am excited to announce that this book is now available! It is part life story, part parenting tips...here is an excerpt from the first chapter.
...what I realized one day, as I watched my daughter wear her pancakes and syrup, is that parenting is all about "dirtying my sleeves." There are things I must do as a parent, no matter how much I may dislike doing them! I can't parent from a distance, with a pair of chopsticks to help extend my reach. I can't wear rubber gloves and be picky and choosy, being involved only when I want and stepping back when I'd rather be doing something else. Parenting involves the whole person jumping in, being in the middle of it all, and letting the pancakes and syrup get on me too. I grasped this when I had my first baby–there was no weekend or vacation from this job. But it was not until I had my eighth baby that I learned to embrace it. This really is going to take all of me...
...This book is not a "how-to" manual, nor is it a solution to your parenting woes. It is simply a retelling of my experience and what I have learned over the past sixteen years. You will see that I started out the same as any other new mom: fearful, uncertain, anxious, grumpy, impatient. I was trying so hard to hold onto my life B.C. ("Before Children") that I was closed to new possibilities. But with help from God and the community around me, I have grown, emerged, and flourished, and continue to do so. Through motherhood, with all its highs and lows, I have found a joy that is unmatched, and a sense of accomplishment that is eternal.
If you would like to purchase a copy, you can do so on Amazon.com.
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