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Do you ever wonder how your kids see you? I do…often. Most of the time I’m sure they see me as this crazy woman sitting at her computer typing away, wearing sweats and ponytail, and completely ignoring the TV blaring from six feet away.
I remember when I first started writing my mentor Robin Gunn told me about a time when a woman approached her (young-at-the time) daughter at a booksigning. The woman asked, “What is it like to live with a famous mother?” Rachel shrugged. “She’s not famous, she’s just mom.”
At the time I was a bit disheartened. As a new writer I liked the idea of seeming famous–even to my kids. But now that I’m more well-known, I appreciate being “just mom.” No matter how many books I publish and sell I’m most-special for just being there to hug, and listen and care.
Of course, having a published author as a mom can come in handy sometimes. My kids have benefited when I’ve turned research trips into family vacations. I’ve also proofed a college essay or two in my time. It also came in handy when my daughter had a paper to write for her Writing for Work class in college. She had to interview a professional in a field she was interested it. Since she’s also interested in freelance writing, she had a find specimen in her very own home!
Here is what she wrote. I had to laugh because I thought she was just going to post the questions and answers. Oh, she went far beyond that!
My daughter’s college paper titled “The Other Side of Mom.”
It is a sunny February day, and I walk into our family dining room. My mother is sitting at her usual seat, plunking away at her laptop while my nearly two year old sister, Alyssa, sits at the other end of the table picking at her mac ‘n cheese. Mom looks up at me, “I’m ready for my interview! But you’ll have to do it while I tidy up the living room.” She gets up, wearing her usual sweat pants and t-shirt, with her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. It still surprises me sometimes that my mother is not simply “mom.” She is also Tricia Goyer (a.k.a award-winning author).
I settle into the couch, pen and paper in hand. “Okay, I’m ready. First question—”
“Oh Leslie,” my mom says, “get your laptop. You know you’ll be able to take notes faster with it.” I chuckle and run up to my room, quickly returning with my small laptop in tow.
“First question, mom: how did you first get interested in writing?”
“I have tons of blogs written about this that I could just send you to! But I’ll tell you, myself.” She picks up a few of Alyssa’s books from the floor and stacks them in a wicker basket. “I grew up loving to read, but I never really thought about becoming a writer. When I was young, oh, probably 21 or so,” she pauses and tilts her head while she thinks (a tendency that she passed down to me), “Yes, 21 is right! Because I was still pregnant with you. Anyways, I was serving in church with your Aunt Cindy, and she was telling me about a novel she was wanting to write. When I heard her talking about it, I started thinking about it too! It would be a great project since I was already a stay-at-home mom… Hold on one second.” She steps out of the room to put a few things in the kitchen.
I finish writing a few notes then she returns.
“So what did you do then? Did you immediately start working on a novel, too?”
You can read the rest of her paper here: http://lesliegoyer.blogspot.com/2012/02/other-side-of-mom.html
And, as I mom I’m proud of all my daughter’s writing, so while you’re there check out some of her other blog posts, too!
Tricia, what a beautiful gift…to see your daughter’s writing and it’s always interesting to consider how our children see us….but, I’m sure it’s even more so…with an incredible Mom like you!!!
I loved your daughter’s article! It was very well written. I could actually picture myself sitting beside watching the interview unfold. She is very talented!
Hmmm. The apple never falls far from the tree, does it? 🙂
What a delightful young woman you have raised!
I have had young moms approach me, worried about the future, unwilling to let the baby/toddler/elementary years go, fearful that those times are as good as it will ever be.
I gently give them a view of the future, where their children grow into themselves, their wonderful, individual, capable selves, with whom they can now be friends. I remind them as well that every stage has its blessings.
Thanks for providing a window into your world as an author and a mom!