Thanks for sharing this Nancy, particularly your journey with IVF and your relationship with Mother's Day. It's never easy. And I appreciate your frankness.
Thalia, thank you so kindly for taking the time to read and comment. It means so very much. I am thrilled to read you work in preservation! I've just begun a two-year MFA in creative nonfiction and aim to write a book with the theme of preservation. Just read your writing on Sally Ride and Yggdrasil, the Norse Tree of Life. You are clearly a human after my own heart! I will hope to upgrade to paid one of these days when I am in a better position to afford that. (Moved just over a year ago and still struggling to find additional ways to secure income in our new environment. Fingers are crossed after applying to two jobs yesterday since I also need to pay for this degree pursuit, but as soon as I am able, I'll definitely upgrade. I'm so happy to connect with you here.)
Nancy- Just wanted to drop a line here and wish you a wonderful summer. Moving is such a testament of courage and perseverance, one that I'm sure you will somehow triumph. Anyone applying to two jobs and pursing higher degree in underrated disciplines, is immediately a legend in my eye. You can do it. And I'll be here to cheer you on, Nancy-
So kind, Thalia. Not sure I'll land either job, but got to keep plugging away and trying. An intense, 9-day, in-person residency for our MFA cohort with all-day workshops, lectures and some evenings events/readings runs June 1-9th after which I work with the published mentor I've been paired with on finalizing a work plan to complete the book proposal over the next two years and polish at least the first three chapters of my planned book. The in-person residency repeats again NEXT June for 9 days but otherwise, much of the rest of the two-years our cohort is left to ourselves and our own (mnemonic and literary) devices to work away at writing. We will meet occasionally with lecturers and each other online the rest of each year (the in-person stuff only unfolds for these 9 days each June.) It means we have some time to devote to additional methods and practices of acquiring income.
We moved 2000+ kilometres because there's a special school here that has been 1000x better for my kid with more options for outdoor education and more support for them (as a kid on the spectrum.) So the move, while stressful and a huge change for us both and yes, courageous for sure, it's been necessary and thankfully a change for the better. If I had to move to the moon for my kid, I'd do it, even if Elon Musk ended up there to ruin the cosmic atmosphere. Change is always an enormous motivator and proved also necessary for my own health and peace of mind, soul, and body so my kid and I (and our big lug of a dog) are feeling grateful to have landed here. Now to land some form of somewhat steady income will also be welcome. I did land a 4-month, temporary gig last September but still sorting out something a bit longer-lasting and doing what I can with freelance stuff. Life is a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes terrifying with brief moments during which you can let go of the bar, raise your arms in ecstasy even if you're screaming the whole time. 😅 We can all embrace the thrilling moments amid the ups and downs and the sometimes frightening. Compared to other places on the planet right now, we are so so so very lucky for where we live and that we live. We are not under siege. We are not daily witnessing or suffering loss and grief. We are not targets of genocidal maniacs. Each day, especially right now, I count our blessings to remind myself how many we have.
Dear Jude. Thanks for this sweet note. I think I still have a somewhat difficult relationship with motherhood but I recognize how lucky I've been in so many respects. Sending hugs and solidarity today. I hope you celebrate yourself today. You deserve it.
Thanks for sharing this Nancy, particularly your journey with IVF and your relationship with Mother's Day. It's never easy. And I appreciate your frankness.
Thalia, thank you so kindly for taking the time to read and comment. It means so very much. I am thrilled to read you work in preservation! I've just begun a two-year MFA in creative nonfiction and aim to write a book with the theme of preservation. Just read your writing on Sally Ride and Yggdrasil, the Norse Tree of Life. You are clearly a human after my own heart! I will hope to upgrade to paid one of these days when I am in a better position to afford that. (Moved just over a year ago and still struggling to find additional ways to secure income in our new environment. Fingers are crossed after applying to two jobs yesterday since I also need to pay for this degree pursuit, but as soon as I am able, I'll definitely upgrade. I'm so happy to connect with you here.)
Nancy- Just wanted to drop a line here and wish you a wonderful summer. Moving is such a testament of courage and perseverance, one that I'm sure you will somehow triumph. Anyone applying to two jobs and pursing higher degree in underrated disciplines, is immediately a legend in my eye. You can do it. And I'll be here to cheer you on, Nancy-
So kind, Thalia. Not sure I'll land either job, but got to keep plugging away and trying. An intense, 9-day, in-person residency for our MFA cohort with all-day workshops, lectures and some evenings events/readings runs June 1-9th after which I work with the published mentor I've been paired with on finalizing a work plan to complete the book proposal over the next two years and polish at least the first three chapters of my planned book. The in-person residency repeats again NEXT June for 9 days but otherwise, much of the rest of the two-years our cohort is left to ourselves and our own (mnemonic and literary) devices to work away at writing. We will meet occasionally with lecturers and each other online the rest of each year (the in-person stuff only unfolds for these 9 days each June.) It means we have some time to devote to additional methods and practices of acquiring income.
We moved 2000+ kilometres because there's a special school here that has been 1000x better for my kid with more options for outdoor education and more support for them (as a kid on the spectrum.) So the move, while stressful and a huge change for us both and yes, courageous for sure, it's been necessary and thankfully a change for the better. If I had to move to the moon for my kid, I'd do it, even if Elon Musk ended up there to ruin the cosmic atmosphere. Change is always an enormous motivator and proved also necessary for my own health and peace of mind, soul, and body so my kid and I (and our big lug of a dog) are feeling grateful to have landed here. Now to land some form of somewhat steady income will also be welcome. I did land a 4-month, temporary gig last September but still sorting out something a bit longer-lasting and doing what I can with freelance stuff. Life is a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes terrifying with brief moments during which you can let go of the bar, raise your arms in ecstasy even if you're screaming the whole time. 😅 We can all embrace the thrilling moments amid the ups and downs and the sometimes frightening. Compared to other places on the planet right now, we are so so so very lucky for where we live and that we live. We are not under siege. We are not daily witnessing or suffering loss and grief. We are not targets of genocidal maniacs. Each day, especially right now, I count our blessings to remind myself how many we have.
I was so glad to hear your story had a happy ending. Thank you for writing this piece for all of us who have a difficult relationship with motherhood.
Dear Jude. Thanks for this sweet note. I think I still have a somewhat difficult relationship with motherhood but I recognize how lucky I've been in so many respects. Sending hugs and solidarity today. I hope you celebrate yourself today. You deserve it.