About This Blog
Attitudes
When I was a young girl, my mother told me that I needed an “attitude adjustment.” This meant that I was pouting and needed to smile more. 30 years later, I’m still a pouty girl. And nothing made me want to smile less than someone telling me to.
I never thought I’d be a stay-at-home mom, but that’s what I became when I was laid off from my job as a high school English teacher. I was worried about the isolation of taking care of two small children throughout the day, the lack of financial resources, and my creative brain turning to mud. Staying home with kids seemed to require a particular kind of talent that I didn’t have.
But I soon realized how fortunate I was to have such an opportunity. I gave myself an attitude adjustment, threw myself into play-dates and story-times and afternoon naps. I started this blog in January of 2010, and it has been a lifeline for me, an opportunity to connect with other mothers and pursue my passion for writing.
Now, I teach composition at nearby community colleges, helping students on their varied paths to success. I devote the rest of my time to reading great works of literature, listening to plenty of NPR, and managing this blog, which enables me to nurture my dreams amidst the chaos of toddlerhood.
I’m keeping a positive attitude. (Mostly.)
This blog is about the joys and trials of my experiences in parenthood and womanhood. Please feel free to share your own.
Adjusting Attitudes All Around….
A BlogHer Voice of the Year 2011 in the Category of Perspectives, “Women in Aprons” (also Freshly Pressed from WordPress on December 9, 2009)
Syndicated on BlogHer:
“A Good Hard Look Is Too Pretty” (book review)
“Blogging Creates a Space of One’s Own”
“Parenting Decisions, Feminism, and the Stay-at-Home Mom”
Momversation Fresh Voice: Fresh Intellect: An Attitude Adjustment
On Babble.com:
“Pregnancy Tips for First-Time Moms”
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I think my mother told me I needed an attitude adjustment more times than I can remember. Can I send my 5-year-old to you for an adjustment?? :)
And my God I can relate to going stir-crazy at home! I had to go get a job to find some peace and quiet. It’s been 5 years and I haven’t looked back. I admire you for finding the patience to stay home – it certainly is the hardest job in the world!!
Hi Ameena! I do wonder if I’ll end up telling my kids they need an attitude adjustment. The blog has taken over the phrase so much for me that I don’t know if I can do it without kicking myself. As far as staying home, I’ve decided to treat it like a job: some days are good, some days are bad. But my part-time job is as a teacher, so that’s not always much of an escape. (Though I love my students.)
Love your blog. Refreshing. My blog is actually a log of my attitude adjustment in the process.. day by day.. it is me trying to be positive and happy & gracious AS A SLIGHTLY INSANE STAY AT HOME MUM!.. anyway – likeminded we are in many ways… Check me out at http://www.bepositivelyhappy.com Cheers, Rach
I’m a mom to a daughter and have loved each day of raising her, though I may not have enjoyed each minute of it. Now, we are living out a new phase in our lives together. She has entered her teen years, and I have returned to work. We have moved to TN from AZ and life is a new adventure every day.
Keep up the great writing!
Wow, this is lovely. Congratulations on being completely relatable. When I read your About section, it feels like a thread from my world. And isn’t it so much easier with just one? If only I knew then the tricks I’ve cultivated now, I’d have had double the time and energy. Check me out if you’d like, at perpetuallynesting.com. I’m just getting started, but your words resonate. Thank you so much. It feels a little more breathable to know you exist.
Hi,
We have a lot in common Jana! I am also an English teacher and a mother of two. Not to mention, when I was college, there was a girl in my teaching cohort named Jana!
I look forward to reading your blog.
I still need an atittude adjustment a lot! I have a naturally down turned mouth and the other day as I got into the backseat of the car with my grandson he asked me why I looked angry. I said, I’m not angry thats just how my face looks. I was born that way. Sad but true. In school people would sometimes ask why I had been crying.
Hi Jana,
Congrats on FP with a great post! You have given me an idea. First, I feel for you and other young moms. I was there with my kids in the 80s and 90s when the new food revolution was just starting, still a seedling, but the guilt pill was beginning its choke hold. Only now, the things I was told to feed my babies (LOTS of cheese and juices, which I did) is now a no-no because of obesity. Moms just can’t win!
Second thought: My new blog is about weightloss with dis-abilites. I am now including Motherhood as a possible dis-ability for some! I’ll post about it in a few days and give reference to you who sparked the idea.
Thanks. And try, try, try not to sweat the cultural expectations. The kids will be OK! Colleen
Jana, like you, I teach writing part-time at a community college and earn most of my living freelancing for business clients. I’m writing a book about the tangled relationship between poetry and prayer (my coauthor is Mike Aquilina, http://www.mikeaquilina.com/). My lone book of poetry was published in 1986. Unlike you, I’ll turn 58 next month. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that your writing really grabs me. You’re good. Really good. I’ll be visiting here often.
Jane,
Thank you so much for this. I didn’t get back to you right away, but your comment has stuck with me. I really appreciate your encouragement!
Wow – we DO have a lot of common intersections, don’t we – thank you so much for stopping by to read the blog! I noticed you just read “A Visit From The Goon Squad” – I did that, with a “Super Sad True Love Story” by Gary Shteyngart chaser, and I almost expired from dystopian depression. Thank god for Foster The People and Guster tracks to keep me cheery. Looking forward to reading your blog going forward!
Nancy Davis Kho recently posted..A Long Slow Goodbye
I am contemplating becoming a SAHM but still doing some part time work. However my one question is how to keep my children socially interactive while staying at home. I know we can go to play groups and such, but I feel they will miss out if I take them out of daycare everyday. They also need time away from Mom! My children would be under 1 year and 3 years old, with a 3rd one eventually on the way!
How do you make sure they have enough time with other kids or do you?
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