Thrive As You

I've never actually thought of myself as a writer  per se.   Several years ago, my friend encouraged me to start a blog about what it's like to be an autism mama.  She thought maybe some people might like to hear what I had to say about my journey, my walk, with autism.  And so I did. I'm an avid reader, but that doesn't make me qualified to write .  I've always loved writing, I was the editor of our yearbook in high school, wrote for the school paper, etc.  Essays were my favorite kind of tests.  I excel with words.  I think it has something to do with talking so much.  But I've never taken a class on writing, on grammar, on where punctuation should go and stuff.  As a substitute teacher I have found myself googling the most basic of grammar questions because I just forgot all of those endless rules.  I always tell the students, "Listen, it's been about 100 years since I was in 4th grade."  And sometimes it feels like just ...

In the new age of social media we share a lot, quite often, too much about ourselves. Writing a blog you tend to share more of yourself with, you know, anyone in the entire universe who can access the internet.  Sometimes it can be a very scary feeling. I made the decision quite sometime ago, when I first started blogging, to share my story.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  I had this feeling that if I was able to share my struggles, it might just help someone, even ONE person get through theirs. When I started my blog it was originally called " April walks with autism ," and the sole focus of my words was to help other mama/daddy warriors on their journey through autism.  But as I started writing, and as more people began to read, I realized that what I had to say, was actually having an effect on a few people out there, and maybe I should open up and begin to talk about some of the other things I was going through, too.   It was around this tim...

For many years, people have told me I should write a book.  In fact, I have told me that I should write a book.  It's less of an "idea" and more of a "calling."  I just know it's inside of me and it needs to come out.  I'm not sure if anyone will actually read it, and that's ok.  The book is inside of me, and I need to write it, to express it. For a long time, I hesitated to to sit down because I thought "I'll never write like Elizabeth Gilbert ."  Well Duh.  There's only one Elizabeth Gilbert just as there is only one April Schmidt.  But the real problem wasn't really that I wanted to write like Liz, but I wanted to write a story similar to hers.  You know, minus the amazing travel.   The story of how I too, found myself crying on a bathroom floor for weeks and months on end...... took a journey (mostly internal), found and endured the David years, and then........ perhaps ended with a love story like hers and Felipe's....

You would actually be amazed at how much I think  about writing.  Much, MUCH more than I actually  write.  What can I say?  I'm a single working mom, volunteer, chauffeur, maid, nurse, laundry bitch, personal assistant, and oh so much more.  Hence why I'm writing at 3:30am.  It's truly the only time I could squeeze in to do it. For the last 3 years probably the biggest area of my life that I've been struggling with is, "What am I supposed to do with my life?"  Maybe the real question I have been asking myself is, "What is my calling?"  I know without question that my life is dedicated to being a mom.  That will always be my first priority and my most true "calling" if you will.  I take being a mom very seriously.  It's not just something you do  it's something you are.   But I'll save that for my Mother's Day post. Ever heard the phrase, "Never try, never fail?"  I'm starting to admit that's why I don...

I haven't written since September 24. "Dear Diary, I haven't written since September 24...." ha ha ha sometimes writing a blog is like confession. A few days ago, a friend paid me a ridiculously high compliment. She said I was a great writer and that my writing touched lives. I'm going to be honest about one thing. I don't take compliments well. I can hear my friend Michelle laughing. Because I don't take compliments period. But, that conversation is for my therapist. Let's just say -- I was honored but not sure if I totally believe her. Either way, she told me to write a book. Well I don't know about all of that because truth be told I can barely keep up with my blog! September! What's wrong with me people? I told my friend that sometimes it's harder to write when there's an "expectation" there. When you know people are out there kinda waiting for you to write something "life changing." Ok, maybe not ...