Your latest update is a beautiful blend of honesty and humour. Your storytelling is engaging, and your reflections on managing life's overwhelming moments resonated deeply. Thank you for sharing your journey with such authenticity—it's a joy to read!
As I read your essay, I thought, Why do people always say these things - things like, "I don't know how you do it!" or "I know you're busy, but..."
I've heard this since our daughter Sarah was born 11 years ago. It's weird. These are tired tropes, at least to me. They don't help when you're buried and consumed and literally need to shut down for a time in order to recover your sanity and sense of self.
By the way, I am glad you were able to do those things. I thought about you not long ago, assumed you were busy with your other writing gig (the newspaper that won the award, I believe), so it's good to hear that your creative longings are returning to you. Please know I'm here as your support. When I first jumped on Substack, you were one of the first to share and comment on my own writing. In this often cutthroat industry, what a welcome reprieve!
That's pretty much my exact thought, but it's so irritating to hear it. I mean, yes, I have 5 kids. Yes, several of them are neurodiverse. Yes, I am a caregiver to one with a rare disease.
Did I want this? NO. Did I plan this? HELL NO. But, like you said, what choice do I have?
I just finished reading a fantastic book by a debut author, Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak, called RATTLED: HOW TO CALM NEW MOM ANXIETY WITH THE POWER OF THE POSTPARTUM BRAIN, and she says this: Tell yourself, I don't want to do it, and I will do it.
I wondered where you were! Glad to see you back and thanks for checking in. I'm of a mind that once we've wormed our way into peoples' hearts they become too entrenched to ever just leave us because we're not around all the time.
Great to hear from you again, Nicci! I hope you and your family are all doing well, and that your business is moving forward. I'm selfishly going to continue to anticipate your next novel, though. :)
I feel your pain. My "Father -in law used to say to me "You will talk to anyone!" You could even talk a cat off of a fish wagon!" Now I consider myself a "Historical Storyteller". That way I don't have to remember dates! Historians remember dates!
Completely relate to needing to clear inputs... always easier said than done. It is so good to have you back.
Good to see you! 🥰
Your latest update is a beautiful blend of honesty and humour. Your storytelling is engaging, and your reflections on managing life's overwhelming moments resonated deeply. Thank you for sharing your journey with such authenticity—it's a joy to read!
Thank you so much, Jon! Sorry I’ve been dark. I’m still very charcoal gray but trying to be around a little more!
Hey Nicci, welcome back.
As I read your essay, I thought, Why do people always say these things - things like, "I don't know how you do it!" or "I know you're busy, but..."
I've heard this since our daughter Sarah was born 11 years ago. It's weird. These are tired tropes, at least to me. They don't help when you're buried and consumed and literally need to shut down for a time in order to recover your sanity and sense of self.
By the way, I am glad you were able to do those things. I thought about you not long ago, assumed you were busy with your other writing gig (the newspaper that won the award, I believe), so it's good to hear that your creative longings are returning to you. Please know I'm here as your support. When I first jumped on Substack, you were one of the first to share and comment on my own writing. In this often cutthroat industry, what a welcome reprieve!
Thanks so much, Jeannie, I’m happy to see you still here! Yeah my answer to that is always “what choice do I have.” I do it because I must.
That's pretty much my exact thought, but it's so irritating to hear it. I mean, yes, I have 5 kids. Yes, several of them are neurodiverse. Yes, I am a caregiver to one with a rare disease.
Did I want this? NO. Did I plan this? HELL NO. But, like you said, what choice do I have?
I just finished reading a fantastic book by a debut author, Dr. Nicole Amoyal Pensak, called RATTLED: HOW TO CALM NEW MOM ANXIETY WITH THE POWER OF THE POSTPARTUM BRAIN, and she says this: Tell yourself, I don't want to do it, and I will do it.
Powerful.
Love that.
So good to see you in my inbox. I’ve missed you :)
Same here, friend!
I wondered where you were! Glad to see you back and thanks for checking in. I'm of a mind that once we've wormed our way into peoples' hearts they become too entrenched to ever just leave us because we're not around all the time.
If they have any sense at all, they'll wait.
We'll wait.
Now take good care of yourself, you hear? ❤️
Thank you, Ramona! Working hard to do just that.
Great to hear from you again, Nicci! I hope you and your family are all doing well, and that your business is moving forward. I'm selfishly going to continue to anticipate your next novel, though. :)
You’ll be waiting a while but that might not be a bad thing. I say it’ll be worth the wait!
I feel your pain. My "Father -in law used to say to me "You will talk to anyone!" You could even talk a cat off of a fish wagon!" Now I consider myself a "Historical Storyteller". That way I don't have to remember dates! Historians remember dates!
Haha. You are a storyteller for sure!!
Did I tell you the one about a Town that wants to tear down a building over 100 years old and replace it with one designed to last only 75 years?
sigh….