Copyright © June Cleaver in yoga pants
Design by Dzignine
Showing posts with label thoughts re careers and babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts re careers and babies. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 28, 2021

2021 the year of ehhhhh

 How do we feel about 2021?

In some ways it was a kick ass year for me. Made it through homeschooling. Got kids back in school, readjusted to life with peers and homework. Got several new amazing clients. Went on a great summer vacation, visited my sister in Tacoma. Read and grew and taught and laughed and joined and quit Match.com about three times and then got a dog. 

In other ways I floundered, pushing into new business territory, flailing around, and feeling out of my league. Wrestled with anxiety. Botched some relationships. You know. It's just. I. It is cloudy and snowing in spurts. My dog is sleeping by the front door. The fire is going in the hearth. Listening to melancholy music by Bon Iver. And just. 

What is it?

This year was weird. I guess I don't know how I feel about it. 

I am definitely stronger. I am definitely more assured of myself. I am definitely more content. So. I guess on the whole, good? 

What say you? 











































 


Wednesday, August 11, 2021

new self/old self

Hey folks. 

It's me. June/Sara.

It's been so long. But, I'm gonna tell you about it, most of the everythings anyway, but just to get this out. I MISS WRITING. These pages that are so simple "title" "text" "image" "PUBLISH" have a way of letting me get things out I didn't know were inside of me. Or things that I knew I needed to say but didn't know how to say. And now, well. That is the story.

See, when it all went down, eons ago, but really only 3 years ago, something inside of me wouldn't allow me to write. Not here. Not at all. I tried numerous times to pick up old writing projects, blog here, write there. But I couldn't. I had some kind of clog inside of me. Oh, I am too busy, that is all, I told myself. 

And of course, I was. And am. But it was more than that, more than "it's not a writing time of life for you Sara."

It was wounds. Writing has a way of opening your soul. You writers out there know what I am talking about. The wall collapses. The windows open. Our fingers fly quicker than our thoughts and suddenly things come out that we weren't prepared for, not ready to see. Or, in good times, things that amaze and thrill us. MY GOD THAT CAME OUT OF MY HEAD. I have had that moment many times writing. It is my thing. Call it a gift, whatever. But, for now three years, it's been stuck. I couldn't chance those things to come out on the page, unknowingly, I didn't want to see them. Couldn't bear to look at this blog with references to dada sprinkled everywhere. He is a different person to me now. My children's dad. And that is weird to get over. 

But. My God. I think I can write again.

Why? 

Acceptance. Maybe? So says therapy lady. Accept what is, not what you thought would be, what you thought WAS, just accept the way it is now. 

And so I do. 

And you know what? That makes the typing of the unfettered thoughts coming out way less scary. 

I was numb to it all. For a couple years there. I couldn't see it, just moving forward, only forward. Which is, of course a good direction to go (hahaha) but, it was at the expense of me stilling my mind, and listening to the wounded former wife inside. 

So, now, every now and then, I listen. And I know her hurts, and I know she is angry, and feels ripped off, but God almighty she is a rocking freaking queen. BUSINESS BUILT UP. IN THE MIDDLE OF A FRIGGING PANDEMIC. NEW BUSINESS LAUNCHED. AMAZING FRIENDS. HOUSE. PUPPY. Girlfriend, wounded former wife, you can glow again. 

Sometimes we gotta talk to ourselves like that you know, the third person, because our rational selves move along with pizza night and tennis lessons and back to school shopping and etc with nary a thought to it all. It is easier sometimes, when we start acclimating to former pain (and yes, its former, wowzah, I wrote that) in any case, sometimes it is easier to acknowledge that former pain in the third person. I know that hurt Sara. I know you feel belittled and torn up and betrayed. But. It's gonna be okay.

MORE THAN OKAY.

I can't tell you all. Too much detail of course isn't meant for public spaces, but, the things I am learning about myself, about recovery from trauma, I CAN TELL AND BY GOLLY I WILL.

So. 

That is that.

About myself. I am a pretty trusting extrovert who has lots of great ideas and is, at 44 years old, quite capable of putting them out into the world. 

Wounded self. Doubts and fears and has a tiny touch of self loathing.

Myself. Joined a boxing club. Eats dinner in restaurants alone. Launched a new amazing course for women going through a mid-life pivot (be it career or what have you) and is pretty free and trusting of her kids in mothering. So much more.

But wounded self. Watches hours of Netflix, still has trouble setting appropriate boundaries, says yes, too easily, can't sleep at night.

Myself though. She is winning the day. 

And she is back. June is here still. She now orders pizza on Wednesday nights and gives unfettered access to devices and buys clothes instead of making them. But she is also creatively pursuing the flourishing life she envisions. And she is pretty damn amazing.

Rock on mamas.

I missed you.








  

Thursday, September 20, 2018

pretending like i can

Years ago, feels like another person, I wrote all about career/baby balance in several posts, the wanting of both worlds, simultaneously.

I thought about that me, dropping my last baby off at pre-school in the rain, only to drive to a client meeting an hour and a half a way with this look on my face the whole time, giant thermos of chai on hand, the silence interrupted only by the windshield wipers, grey skies and golden autumn fields flashing by my side.

And I thought about how I wish I was the kind of woman who could do this life. Career pursuits intermixed with crazy hair day and chocolate sales and basketball registration and dishes and laundry and homework check-offs and reading practice and please put down the ipad. I felt like I was pretending, driving through the rain. Like, I wish I was that woman. Who was strong enough. Tough enough. I wish this felt normal. Maybe someday, I found myself thinking. Maybe someday I can do it.

Then I realized something.

I needed to change the language in my head, in that very moment. Not, I wish I were stronger, better, more able. But that I AM strong, I AM able.

Maybe is today.


I am doing it.

I mean. I might be cranky some mornings. I might forget to check math homework. I might send my kid to school without snacks packed. I might mix up Tuesday with Thursday. Or get snappish at my 12 year, no really put the &#$!!*# ipad down.

But dammit.

I am doing it.

And here is the thing I have been rolling around in my head for weeks now. Something I read ages ago but now sticks like glue to my thoughts. Courage is not the lack of fear. Courage is doing, even when afraid. Courage is doing, even when we are positive we are not actually up to the task. Courage is motion, action, purpose.

And I went to my client meeting and smiled and shook hands, wearing my blazer and, yes, lipstick, and I drove home, in the rain, and met kids at the bus and sweated out 4th grade math homework, and made dinner, and answered work emails as the potato soup simmered.

There is hope. If we look for it, is the thing. Strength too. Mamas. We have so much of it, right? And there is, always, a new day tomorrow.






Wednesday, June 28, 2017

June, in photos

You guys. Dear mamas. It was seven years ago that I pushed post on my first ever blog post. It was funny and sweet and I feel like patting the head of the lady that wrote it. Oh lady. You are so cute. And your energy, oh my gosh. I don't even know. How. She. Did. It. All.

How is that me????

Seven years isn't that much time. But it is a good portion of my motherhood years. Gosh, little man was only 3! Now he is for real a little man. Wait till you see photos below. He is going to be as tall as me in the next year or two!

Ah me.

Oh June.

I miss you.

Let's craft together soon, eh? Or hey, lets make some Kombucha! Sew some curtains??? Maybe plan a new garden??? Please??

In the meanwhile, over the past three months I have been collaborating with another dear soul sister to run a daily workshop learning about justice and advocacy and fighting the good fight and planning community projects and taking tiny steps to right the wrongs in our worlds around us. And, we were all women, and it was amazing and it was hard, super hard, but its all this vision we have of supporting people to battle injustices in the world, even as they raise babies - especially as they raise babies. Let's face it, mamas are some of the baddest badasses for raising a ruckus and fighting the good fight out there. Right??

We need more of it. So, that is what I have been up to.

I had so many moments of doubt and angst and I suck and feeling like a terrible mother. But I realized, even with a one year old toddling around (get OFF the table baby, please!) I need to do things like this now. Even if it seems crazy, even if it seems RIDICULOUS, even if it seems daring and daunting and overwhelming.

And I realize how much my June days were really laying a foundation for my motherhood - no, even my personhood. Because even if I yell, even if I lose it, even if I can only muster the energy to read a story and call it a night, I can kiss them knowing, dammit I am a good mama. Showing them that speaking into other people's lives by teaching is worth it. The late nights and tired mornings. Worth going without new things, to launch into a new thing. That even as times are hard I know how to work hard. I have canned strawberry rhubarb jam with three kids under five! I can do anything!

HAHAHA.

And I don't know what the next season will bring - I have hopes, we do, big ones, but those hopes aren't quite ready to be exposed to the big old world quite yet, they are more tiny quiet seeds.

And isn't seed planting so joyous??

To take these tiny little kernels, kiss them, and stick them in the wet earth, praying for a harvest, somehow, someday.

That is this season. But I think I have some leaves budding up. And maybe a bloom or two soon.

What is blooming in your lives lately??

Let's visit more. Hugs to you mamas.


val learned his first big word - "Ava-dodo" :)

and became very difficult to get to sleep....11pm here

swinging wearing ev's old green shoes SNIFF SNIFF

i got some cool pants

lots of walks to browse the "free stuff" on campus

tie dyes for dada on fathers day. ask me how calm I was during this. I DARE YOU. (it was bad, really really bad)

more late night walks

one of those beautiful i love hawaii mornings




i took this photo to commemorate my once every six months nap

our lovely group of justice warriors



my soul sister co leader (below in the green dress) had a little 3 yr old daughter who
became best buds with baby



our graduation night

mama warriors


we discovered snap chat. god help me.

HAHAHAHA. i look so PREEEEETYYYY

i took myself out on a date to watch dear friends perform a show of broadway numbers. SO FUN


mama escape time.


this summer, made possible by too much coffee


my friend from back in college coming to teach our team. SO AMAZING

their last day of school for the year.... MY HEART

singing with the school

we are done!!

baby discovering the playground. i can no longer sit and watch the big kids play...
oh wait. i have big kids.....YOU WATCH HIM. HAHAHAHA.











brothers reading together....MY HEART



their faces when they realized i threw out the abanoned melting shaved ice. HAHA

pretending to drive

sleepy eyes

babies and snap chat....HAHAHA

at the parade

he is not too sure about the marching band






my partner in this daring daunting overwhelming joyfull seed planting season

yes, we actually went out. alone.




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...