The Thoughtful Spot

First, I should probably introduce myself. I apologize in advance for the repetition if you've read my bio. I'm new here, online in general I mean. Until recently I shunned social networking, avoided chats and twitters and messaging and most other forms of electronic communication (except email, of course. Is there anyone out there who doesn't email anymore?) I'm even still known to send the occasional letter. Although, if the price of stamps keeps going up, I may have to discontinue that practice. Sorry Post Office... It's every girl for herself these days.

I am a Mom of 2. And, I capitalize the Mom with forethought, and not without an understanding of proper grammar. My eldest is a preschooler who spoke early, yells seldom, loves to read, paint, sing and observe the world around him. My youngest is a toddler who is the picture of his father. He's a tiny linebacker, physical in every sense of the word. And he's already let us know that he will start to talk when he's good and ready. Why bother when the pointing and grunting have worked so far?

I don't intend for my articles to be about my kids. But, they will probably find their way into every entry in one shape or form. They are truly the center of my world. I miss them in the mornings when I leave early for work and I light up when I see them at the end of the day. Yup, I'm a Working Mom (again with the capitalization). Not a SAHM or a WAHM, but an out in the world sort of Working Mom. Is there an acronym for that? I haven't come across one yet. I'd be home with my boys if I could, but, the world being the way it is, full time work is the path that has been chosen for me. More about that later... this is supposed to be an introduction after all.

As I was saying, I don't intend this hub to be about my kids. This is my place, my time, my Thoughtful Spot. My children have been the focus of my world for going on 5 years now. I'm not a mom who believes in "me time." I don't do spa days and girls nights out. I made a commitment to my family when I decided to have babies. They are my (and my husband's) responsibility. To give them a secure future, I have to be away from them 40+ hours a week, I don't choose to be away from them on the weekends too. That being said, my limited outside exposure, and my subsequent overexposure to Barney, Disney and The Wiggles, has started to curb my creative flow. I'm a smart woman, and a passionate one. I used to love to read and write. I used to know what was going on in the world. I used to follow music and art, current events and politics, fashion and food. Now I toss on jeans and a baseball cap, grab a granola bar and try to catch some headlines on my local news radio in the car on the way to work. I haven't had a solid intellectual discussion in years... Heck. I haven't gone to the bathroom in private in years!

So, this site is meant to be my space... and yours. I'm not the old me, the pre-kid, politically savvy, wonder-what-I'll-do-today girl. But, she's in here somewhere. I don't want that life back, but I do want to hold onto the core being that is me. I'm good with the Mom layers that have been wrapped around like so many winter coats (much better with them than I am with the extra Mom pounds!), but I want to make sure that core me doesn't suffocate in there. I need to let her out every once in a while. And this, is my way to do it. Some thing, some place where I can vent, offer advice, discuss, think, comment and talk. And a venue where I can do that all in the 10 minute increments my life currently allows.

Speaking of which... break time is over. Time to get back to work. If anyone has read this, I thank you. If not, well then, I guess I'm just talking to myself. I do that a lot these days anyway...

 I've been around here on hubpages for a few weeks now, and am starting to get a better feel for the type of writing that populates it.  I've realized through my own reading and the helpful tips of others that this is not the place for an add on, blog-style meandering kind of piece.  So, I've reached a decision on this particular hub... Here is where it will end.  It served its purpose.  It got me here.  I made a commitment to myself the day I signed up for Hubpages that I would write one piece and publish it right away so that the "I want to write again" urge in my gut wouldn't peter out and go unfulfilled.

I'm trying to move on now to more informative pieces, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the results.  And the community I'm discovering on my journey.  I know that I will still need to vent my random thoughts and editorial style comments periodically.  Although they won't be money makers, or maybe even much read, they will be good for my soul, so I will continue to post them... and I will link to them here.  If you've enjoyed this piece or if I've given you a laugh, please click below.  If you need something meatier, check out my other hubs or any of the tens of thousands of pieces written by other hubbers.  I know I have.  This hubs time may be done, but my time here on hubpages is most certainly not.  Thank you all for giving my words a home.