Anna Ingwersen is my childhood best friend, aspiring novelist, and author of a new blog called Mother Freakin’ Writers. She’s running some great interviews about writing and mothering.
You gave all this up for us? [My children] were sad for me, and at that moment I was sad for me too, but it was also important to tell them this–because of all the things I could say to children about the time they spend on earth, this is the most important–If you are lucky, you get to make choices.
I was lucky. I chose to make Halloween costumes, and birthday cakes that looked like pirate ships. I chose to direct school plays and teach poetry workshops. I started a film club and we made great films. I was part of a wonderful group of people who sold pizza for a year and earned enough money to build a labyrinth at my kids’ school. I had the pleasure of knowing all their classmates, and sharing with those kids my love of words, and most of all, watching all of them grow up together. It was a great pleasure. It was an enormous pleasure.
I think I chose well. And most significantly, I had the opportunity to choose. And nothing about that is sad. But it was also important to tell them every choice is a trade. Something for something else.
And that morning earlier that summer when I woke up in bed with all my regrets I was thinking about that, too–of the conscious decisions you make and how they tally up, how they are the sum of your days. Go here for more.
Thanks for pointing us over! What a great blog!
Isn’t it? This post continues to inspire me.
Ooh. I really love that. It’s true – we are so lucky to be able to make choices. It is a true blessing.
Yes. Having the option is hugely freeing.