Titles for Transitional Times

In front of my kitchen window, with my hands immersed in warm, sudsy water, I tilted my head and thought about what label I would give myself at this time in my life. Stay-at-home-mom has been my self-proclaimed title for twelve years, but how to account for the thirty-plus hours each week I spend on my writing career?



I'm the type of person who doesn't want to mislead anyone. The truth is very important to me.

Could I call myself a working mom even though I don't get paid? Would I even want to call myself a working mom unless I get paid?

No, I'm not supporting any mommy wars today. There are many working mothers who help my life--nurses who make my children's shots painless, check-out clerks who light my day with a smile, teachers who nurture my kids, scientists working on a cure for cancer, and yes, even editors and agents who are willing to spend time away from their families to grow authors' careers. But working outside the home does not make one mom super while the other mom is just a mom. Stay-at-home-moms are vital too. I'd say in today's busy world, we're all supermoms. The important thing is that each mother is making a difference in the way she's best suited for.

Back to my dilemma. Well, my writing isn't volunteer work. I intend to make money from my books. Ever since I started submitting, I haven't been afraid to tell people I'm a writer. Have there been times I've been embarrassed when someone asks if I'm published yet? Oh, yeah! But most of the time, I'm confident in myself and my work. I have always considered it just a matter of time until my books are in stores.

So, I dipped my hands back into the welcoming bubbles and my title was there: I'm a stay-at-home-mother and aspiring author.

What title do you give yourself? Or do you prefer not to be locked in a box?

Join me on Wednesday when we'll talk about envy.

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