tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post1906955807955396358..comments2024-03-15T23:39:29.134-08:00Comments on Scribbit | Motherhood in Alaska: My Own Little Mid-Life CrisisScribbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-8292820669834645732011-05-15T11:38:56.697-08:002011-05-15T11:38:56.697-08:00Thank you for this honest post, Michelle.
I am st...Thank you for this honest post, Michelle.<br /><br />I am still in the baby/toddler stage, but it's so interesting and important to "look ahead" at the future. I feel like you just gave me a gift by reminding me of that truth.<br /><br />I'm curious. Now that you stand on the brink of a new season of life, do you wish that you had focused some time on business or hobbies when your children were little? Or are you glad you just treasured those moments as a family?<br /><br />stephanie@metropolitanmama.netStephaniehttp://metropolitanmama.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-41575595652991365622011-03-08T12:59:09.807-09:002011-03-08T12:59:09.807-09:00My mother decided to learn to play an orchestral i...My mother decided to learn to play an orchestral instrument at 48. She loves it, it keeps her busy and her creative juices flowing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-61902401850583773852011-02-17T19:14:28.801-09:002011-02-17T19:14:28.801-09:00My oldest is graduating this spring. And with only...My oldest is graduating this spring. And with only two children, the last will be done in 4 years. I am totally with you on this. I worked most of their lives (although from home) and I finally quit about 3 years ago. I am glad I did, but I am so lost as to what will happen next. I really am done in the field I was in, and am having a really hard time finding something else that I am passionate about. I do volunteer work that I like, but there is only so much of that. I am very busy in my church calling, but that too will most likely change. I saw someone said the Eyre's have a book....I will go check it out. This is a constant worry for me. Thanks for sharing. :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00103993586753057004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-69265050060964081172011-02-14T20:53:24.196-09:002011-02-14T20:53:24.196-09:00My oldest daughter will be turning 20 this year. I...My oldest daughter will be turning 20 this year. I'm more than a bit freaked out about it. When she graduated 2 yrs ago I hit a major depression, which I'm not used to. My youngest son is 7, but I feel like I'm out of the baby years and am onto a new phase of life which I wasn't expecting to have reached so unexpectedly!! You will get thru it, but it's definitely a change.<br /><br /><br />~MimiMimi Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16860967608697974293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-10057332100416059912011-02-10T21:18:14.741-09:002011-02-10T21:18:14.741-09:00It's a mistake to assume all the kids will lea...It's a mistake to assume all the kids will leave home for good after they turn 18. One has no way of knowing what the future holds. I think the mistake comes when we look ahead and think we do. Kids come back...sometimes it takes them several good-byes before the final one arrives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-8292697147955822462011-02-10T09:38:23.645-09:002011-02-10T09:38:23.645-09:00Thanks so much for your post. I've been going...Thanks so much for your post. I've been going through those same feelings as I'm about to have teenagers!! I did read a quote from somewhere though that said, "Who you are is more important than what you do." For me that has helped me keep things in perspective.tumbleweedsandtwistershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14005596275474619120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-28898826226597906482011-02-09T17:51:38.952-09:002011-02-09T17:51:38.952-09:00I'm in the process of reading a book about thi...I'm in the process of reading a book about this very subject, The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir by Katrina Kenison. I'm middle aged, but have kids in elementary school.It's interesting to think ahead & also to treasure this time I have with my kids.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17274831438726432598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-25344464067784123352011-02-09T12:10:12.203-09:002011-02-09T12:10:12.203-09:00thank you for your honesty and posting this! i hav...thank you for your honesty and posting this! i have an almost 2 year-old and constantly struggle with the "it will get better when" mentality. i have to keep reminding myself to be CONTENT where God has placed me...learn lessons from it and ENJOY!!<br />thank you!~Seth and Nancy~https://www.blogger.com/profile/14834493829707230522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-621770117047933082011-02-09T09:38:39.884-09:002011-02-09T09:38:39.884-09:00Let's catch up here:
Stephanie: You're ri...Let's catch up here:<br /><br />Stephanie: You're right of course, though I do tend to think that if you've been able to pull it off then you won't have as much to do as you think. My parents are still around and present in the kids' lives but they aren't parenting the way they used to. They don't need to and shouldn't be too involved so it's a different stage I think.<br /><br />Annie: I take comfort in finding you asking the same questions at least.<br /><br />Slightly Askew: Though do you know that every time I used your soaps I was happy :) I was using what must have been the Oatmeal Milk and Honey bar (I took off the wrapper and threw it away before paying attention and only remember the word "honey") and thought it was the best smelling thing I'd ever used on my body. It made the whole bathroom smell fabulous and I keep thinking I need to buy some more.<br /><br />So you have one fine soap business I would say. But sounds like you're wondering the same things I am and I keep thinking I need to get busy and find some answers. THose I've been so lazy about it all.<br /><br />Vanderbilt: Thanks so much for the recommendation--maybe that would help. Faith and religion have been a huge help with it all as it does give you purpose and meaning though as luck would have it at church I was recently rotated out of helping out with the teen girls. I'd been doing that for 4 years and loving it but it was time to give someone else a chance so I was put out to pasture and it's added to that lost feeling I've had. I need to find another way to serve.<br /><br />Lucy: I have a friend who had problems that required her to have children with IVF. They ended up with triplets, then one, then twins within 5 years because they wanted a big family and knew her time for child bearing was limited. I always thought though that while some people thought that having that many small kids was crazy and too hard to deal with I wondered if she wouldn't find that having them all leave home in a relatively short burst of synchronizing would ultimately be harder on her. I don't envy her that. After having such a full house then having them all off at school in one burst it would be hard.Scribbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-43283578003912510552011-02-09T09:00:58.880-09:002011-02-09T09:00:58.880-09:00I'm not to the empty nest point yet, but I hav...I'm not to the empty nest point yet, but I have realized that things are changing for me now too - my youngest will start kindergarten this fall and suddenly all 3 of them seem so much more independent. I'm out of the diapers and toddler stages and I know they still need me (mostly as a chauffeur, lol), but in different ways now. It's odd - you get so focused on having babies and little ones because that's what you have at first and for several years in a row if you have more than one child. But once the youngest gets past all of that, I'm finding I sort of miss it in some ways, although I never thought I would.<br /><br />I second the idea that you should write a book so that all of the rest of us have a guide when we get to that point! Good luck with your decision-making, no matter what you end up doing!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03806252705199445407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-88530660428249978432011-02-09T07:42:32.750-09:002011-02-09T07:42:32.750-09:00i've resorted to taking pictures of kermit the...i've resorted to taking pictures of kermit the frog and asking strangers to pose with him. odd? yes. .. it's great entertainment nonetheless.laura leehttp://www.lauraleephoto.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-44551488365622792642011-02-09T04:27:29.784-09:002011-02-09T04:27:29.784-09:00At least you had more than two kids with I did. A...At least you had more than two kids with I did. And with only two, you get through very fast. When I worked it was great and I still miss going to work. But I also finally love being able to do whatever I want to do, and going wherever I want to go. I don't know. I don't have any answers. I have my own legal pad full of questions that I want answered when I after I'm dead. Some things are great; some things just plain hurt.<br /><br />Life! *pffffft*RoeHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00131723337404316867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-57467255442877992011-02-09T03:05:48.226-09:002011-02-09T03:05:48.226-09:00Wow! very nice information i get! Thanks a lot for...Wow! very nice information i get! Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty article with me.Oliviahttp://bosshoes.net84.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-57190595898797885362011-02-08T23:44:33.426-09:002011-02-08T23:44:33.426-09:00By the time your youngest leaves home, you will pr...By the time your youngest leaves home, you will probably have a couple of grandchildren who will keep you busy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-56619474881434270242011-02-08T23:39:23.248-09:002011-02-08T23:39:23.248-09:00My friend is 45 and just had her ninth child. May...My friend is 45 and just had her ninth child. Maybe in some religious cultures people are still engaged in child-rearing in the middle-age years so there are few books to address the empty nest emptiness.<br /><br />The Eyres have written about how to have a productive life post children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-52794804502277253132011-02-08T21:48:44.039-09:002011-02-08T21:48:44.039-09:00I really enjoy your blog and I think writing a boo...I really enjoy your blog and I think writing a book or teaching are good ideas for you. It is funny that you posted on this topic because it is something that I have been thinking about lately...I went to college and grad school and worked for a long time before getting married and having children. I was home full-time for six years but now I work part time. I have a profession that I enjoy and it is very flexible. I actually work out of a home office. I am grateful that I have this profession and that I was able to get right back into it. I look around at all of my other stay at home mother friends and a lot of them do not have a career to get back into when their children are older. Their whole lives were focused on getting married and being a stay at home mother. Being only a housewife/stay at home mother would never have been enough for me. I followed my mother's example. She worked, then had five kids and went to grad school at night, was home for 12 years total, but then went back to work part time. She was really fulfilled by her part time professional career as a college professor. Many of her friends did not have job skills after their years at home. It was not easy for them to get jobs. And honestly, you never know if/when you will lose your spouse. I think every woman should be able to support herself and her children financially if need be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-20160933707303510882011-02-08T12:29:10.186-09:002011-02-08T12:29:10.186-09:00I can relate. Although my kids still keep me plent...I can relate. Although my kids still keep me plenty busy, I do have hours when they are gone. I don't really have an excuse to be behind on laundry (and in fact am not behind on laundry). <br />I suspect, though, that you will find a purpose to daily life (not talking about grand Purpose of Life here; just the reason to get out of bed on this particular morning). Maybe you'll work, or write more, or mentor young moms, or teach English to refugees. I bet it will just come about and you'll realize it one day. :) <br />Possibly you will write a book about this very thing! After all, there's a market for it ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-13669306646694457262011-02-08T12:21:20.283-09:002011-02-08T12:21:20.283-09:00Thank you for sharing. All new seasons in life pre...Thank you for sharing. All new seasons in life present their own unique challenges. It's something new we've never done before. You will find your way. <br /><br />You gave several suggesstions and ideas in your post, but it doesn't sound like you are really excited about any of them. I'm so sorry about the 'blah' feelings. <br />I hope you find something you are passionate about that will be "your new thing". Whatever it is you will do a great job!<br /><br />I in no way am trying to tell you to keep writing, okay, yeah, I guess I am :)<br /><br />I so enjoy your writing. Even if you have times where you wonder what on earth you could write about and why people would read it, please know that you touch people with your writing. Real live people on the other side of the screen, perhaps the other side of the world. You make us laugh,appreciate the natural beauty of our world, and pause to reflect on our own lives. <br /><br />best,<br />TrixieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-41273648196489059212011-02-08T12:16:31.872-09:002011-02-08T12:16:31.872-09:00Write the book you just described:
"Where ar...Write the book you just described:<br /><br />"Where are all the books and manuals on how to get through your 40's and 50's? I've seen millions of books with advice on how to get you through those take-off years of work and school and early parenting but everyone is strangely silent on what to do once you've reached cruising altitude."<br /><br />I'm in a strange position in that next year, I'll have kids ranging from high school to infant. I'm still wiping people and things, but I've also got to start thinking of launching people, too. And that's more daunting than anything I've done to this point...<br /><br />Yes! Write the book. I need it far more than a book about breastfeeding or disciplining a preschooler.gretchen from lifenuthttp://www.lifenut.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-38673686621929038712011-02-08T10:35:32.981-09:002011-02-08T10:35:32.981-09:00I work a full time job, plus am a mom (to a single...I work a full time job, plus am a mom (to a single child), and a wife. And yet, I find myself thinking similar type thoughts. I mean, my daughter is in High School, and it is just a matter of time before she's off and gone. I don't spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to fill my day, but I do wonder what changes will come along when I no longer have to worry about lunches and homework and scouts and field trips, and the cleaning and laundry and cooking that a child brings into the picture. How will my life be the same? How will it be different? In this current economic time, what moves can I do to control what my life will be like? I can't really quit my job in search of a better one, because good jobs are few and far between right now. But of course, I can always keep my eyes open. Now, if only I could figure out what a better job might look like to me, I might have a better chance of finding one...Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653383372182667361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-70585159840001820252011-02-08T09:57:24.291-09:002011-02-08T09:57:24.291-09:00Since I am only a few years into motherhood this i...Since I am only a few years into motherhood this is a poignant reminder for me to enjoy this chapter of life but to keep in mind as I do that there are other chapters ahead where being Mom will be a less prominent facet of my character.Katie Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16198112856969365250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-28287440345982604482011-02-08T09:12:29.809-09:002011-02-08T09:12:29.809-09:00I will preface this with--I am 28 and in the very ...I will preface this with--I am 28 and in the very small children phase. Rocking a 7-week-old in the sling as I type and this morning have been pulling my hair out over the inability to get ANYTHING done with two children.<br /><br />A few years ago I got my mom <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591453321?ie=UTF8&tag=vandewife-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1591453321" rel="nofollow">Second Calling</a> by Dale Hanson Bourke. It deals with what you're talking about from a Christian perspective. I actually read it for work and loved it a lot myself. I hope she read it. I know you're a reader so maybe it'd be worth a read for you, too. :)<br /><br />JessieJessie Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805989975484713982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-56791255958387414162011-02-08T08:53:31.265-09:002011-02-08T08:53:31.265-09:00I am there also. My oldest is a freshman at UAA t...I am there also. My oldest is a freshman at UAA this year and my baby is now 15 and does not need me at all (well except to drive her to all her social engagements). What should I do? How do I spend my time? I have no hobbies but realize I need to find some. I work but it is just a job and weekends are boring. There is only so much tv you can watch or surfing the internet you can do. I am mid 40's and still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up and how to have a rich interesting life. Iam glad to know I am not the only one with decisions to make.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-39685960357995562892011-02-08T06:26:42.164-09:002011-02-08T06:26:42.164-09:00That is exactly where I am at. Last child is 16. I...That is exactly where I am at. Last child is 16. I have my soap business but I can't help but think that I should be doing something else as well. Even though I am very much a "live in the now" type of person I am spending a lot of time wondering what is coming next. Am I doing what I should be doing?SWigginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830146036920766704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-64848668100004437332011-02-08T06:21:37.759-09:002011-02-08T06:21:37.759-09:00I'm reading this while remembering I spent 8 a...I'm reading this while remembering I spent 8 am to 3 pm yesterday sitting on my couch watching stupid TV 90% of the time. This is the first year all 3 of my kids are in school and I'm still trying to find meaning in my day.<br /><br />I envy your already clean and organized house... I always have THAT to do. =]Edward Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15075756409606470936noreply@blogger.com