Comments on: Other lives http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/ writing, mothering, writing about mothering Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:28:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Toni http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/#comment-11625 Toni Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:49:11 +0000 http://thiswomanswork.com/?p=1232#comment-11625 "Now look at me, I'm just like everybody else." --Ani DiFranco Before I became a mom, I had the idea to write a story about a mom who gets in her car and just starts driving westward. How I knew that was some sort of universal yearning, I'll never know. I just had this thought, "what if I just kept driving?" and always thought it would make for a good story. Then I read Berg's "Escaping Into the Open," where I learned that she had written expressly on that subject in "The Pull of the Moon," which I've also read. In "Escaping into the Open," she mentions that she had that idea for a novel but learned Tyler had already done it in "Ladder of Years." I can't remember if she'd already completed "Moon" or not; but she continued on anyway, knowing how different her style was from Tyler's and confident that there was room for her story, too. I found that really encouraging, to know that it's okay to keep on with your good ideas even if 30 other people have the very same idea. It's our own voices and execution that make the ideas stand out. “Now look at me, I’m just like everybody else.” –Ani DiFranco

Before I became a mom, I had the idea to write a story about a mom who gets in her car and just starts driving westward. How I knew that was some sort of universal yearning, I’ll never know. I just had this thought, “what if I just kept driving?” and always thought it would make for a good story. Then I read Berg’s “Escaping Into the Open,” where I learned that she had written expressly on that subject in “The Pull of the Moon,” which I’ve also read. In “Escaping into the Open,” she mentions that she had that idea for a novel but learned Tyler had already done it in “Ladder of Years.” I can’t remember if she’d already completed “Moon” or not; but she continued on anyway, knowing how different her style was from Tyler’s and confident that there was room for her story, too.

I found that really encouraging, to know that it’s okay to keep on with your good ideas even if 30 other people have the very same idea. It’s our own voices and execution that make the ideas stand out.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/#comment-11624 Lisa Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:22:25 +0000 http://thiswomanswork.com/?p=1232#comment-11624 Dawn happy you are back. I have four and I look longingly not at other mothers, but at what my life was with just 2 or 3 children. Not that I could ever give up any of this children, but a year and a half into the fourth I am still completely overwhelmed at being a mother of 4. I even have a good age spread. I admit I suffer from a ton of guilt about how much the oldest two have to help me out. I would counsel my children to only have 2 I think. It was easier and in terms of time and money it was better. I love all these kids, but I spend a lot of time loving them as a group and almost zilch time loving them individually. I have to work part-time, I am taking a class- time is my most precious commodity. So its woulda shoulda coulda today. I am hoping I adjust soon, and can finally wrap my mind around having four. Dawn happy you are back. I have four and I look longingly not at other mothers, but at what my life was with just 2 or 3 children. Not that I could ever give up any of this children, but a year and a half into the fourth I am still completely overwhelmed at being a mother of 4. I even have a good age spread. I admit I suffer from a ton of guilt about how much the oldest two have to help me out. I would counsel my children to only have 2 I think. It was easier and in terms of time and money it was better. I love all these kids, but I spend a lot of time loving them as a group and almost zilch time loving them individually. I have to work part-time, I am taking a class- time is my most precious commodity. So its woulda shoulda coulda today. I am hoping I adjust soon, and can finally wrap my mind around having four.

]]> By: Meagan http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/#comment-11623 Meagan Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:05:06 +0000 http://thiswomanswork.com/?p=1232#comment-11623 Dawn, I am SO HAPPY to see you blogging again!!! Dawn, I am SO HAPPY to see you blogging again!!!

]]> By: RB http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/#comment-11622 RB Thu, 16 Sep 2004 20:29:57 +0000 http://thiswomanswork.com/?p=1232#comment-11622 I just stumbled upon your site, and had to laugh my ass off at the first thing I read. I'm a mom of four and my husband makes enough money for me to be just a housewife. I pride myself on my patience and organizational skills. I scrapbook. In my imaginary life, I live in a hip European city in a little flat over the bookstore where I work. In the evenings, I meet my hip European friends at a sidewalk cafe and discuss philosophy and literature over red wine and cigarettes. I just stumbled upon your site, and had to laugh my ass off at the first thing I read. I’m a mom of four and my husband makes enough money for me to be just a housewife. I pride myself on my patience and organizational skills. I scrapbook. In my imaginary life, I live in a hip European city in a little flat over the bookstore where I work. In the evenings, I meet my hip European friends at a sidewalk cafe and discuss philosophy and literature over red wine and cigarettes.

]]> By: sanelurker http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2004/09/14/other-lives/#comment-11621 sanelurker Thu, 16 Sep 2004 01:06:39 +0000 http://thiswomanswork.com/?p=1232#comment-11621 Is The Pull of the Moon good? I have only read one other of Elizabeth Berg's books and it was pretty bad, though many amazon reviewers loved it. Glad that you're blogging again. Is The Pull of the Moon good? I have only read one other of Elizabeth Berg’s books and it was pretty bad, though many amazon reviewers loved it.

Glad that you’re blogging again.

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