When you write professionally, it is natural to have some highs and lows. With columns like these on Triangle Mom2Mom or even personal blogs, you may not realize it, but authors are constantly making themselves vulnerable to the reader. Each week, we may divulge a personal fact either through humor or raw emotion. But, no matter how we do it, vulnerability is the key to writing success and connecting with you. 

Sometimes it’s easy to do and comes as naturally as the wind. Other times, it is not, and the author has an internal struggle that leads to a lot of blank pages and the dreaded writer’s block. 

Is it stress? 

Maybe!  We Moms have a lot on our plates. It’s not all rosy in our day-to-day lives, and writing about our children’s achievements is great for a quick, personal Facebook post, but not for all to hear. 

Working moms also know that when you have a lot going on in your personal life, it makes your professional side struggle a little bit. Sure, you make your required deadlines, but in reality you are not quite sure how you got there. You’re glad you did, but it was as if you were on autopilot and the car just drove to work on its own and the work day was fuzzy. 

That’s where I am right now in my life. I’m cranking out a lot of material right now that does not require me to be vulnerable. It’s all about experiences and facts. Not emotions. 

This writing space is personal. It requires some emotion. It requires an author to dig deep and be comfortable revealing a more vulnerable side to the reader. It’s not always easy to do. It may be odd to compare it to acting, and bringing a character to life, but writing columns like this is truly creative expression.

And I can’t do it right now. I’ve shut down. 

Is it because it’s the end of the school year and things get crazy busy in a mom’s personal life?

Maybe?

In the past month, I’ve taken on a new writing client. I’ve been traveling for my feature stories. I’ve been in a wedding. And I’ve even been sick. 

I’m talking in the bed with a fever and “no sitting on the computer doing social media” sick. 

I shut down. I got behind. 

Now, I’m trying to pull myself out of the sea of deadlines, and all I really want to do is to stretch out on the couch and watch “The Voice.”

I’m still not 100 percent well. 

But the minute I get a second alone to try to catch up, chaos erupts in the house and my short creative spurt is ruined. 

One child screams. One child requires a hug and kiss. And I require a new glass of water because one child spit her drink into mine.  

Yeah, really! They require my attention. And any creative moment I have left for you is long gone. 

Long gone. 

I will get it all back for you. Your patience and understanding are appreciated. 

It’s like I’ve shut down the creative side of my brain, but I hope to reboot it soon. 

But, as a fellow mom, I’m sure you understand.