-
Embracing Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and for too many women this isn’t a day they want to celebrate. We’re bombarded with commercials portraying the perfect image of a mother, but what about the women who deal with infertility, or the women whose mothers abandon or abused them, or the women who grieve the loss of a child, or the women whose children have walked out of their lives. For these women, Mother’s Day hurts.
I was once told that a day would come when I would be thankful for my infertility. The words sounded crass and out of place, but then it happened. Infertility brought me three of the four greatest blessings. Infertility moved us toward adoption and the children God always knew were meant for our family. I’m made a mother through my infertility and my fertility, but mostly by love.
Mother’s Day is about celebrating the nurturing nature in women. It’s about the woman who teaches Sunday School, the one who holds the premature babies in the hospital nursery, the one who reads to children at her local elementary school, and the one who puts aside her freedom to encourage, buildup, or support another person, no matter the age. It’s about compassion and being a shoulder to cry on, but also celebrating good times and laughter.
This year I honor not only my mother, but the step-mother who worked hard to keep a father in my life. And my Granny, who wasn’t biologically related to me, but chose to love me with her whole heart, and with that love, changed my course. And the mother-in-law who encourages me to keep moving toward my dreams. And the sweet woman from my church who disciples me and loves my children like they’re her grandkids. And the birthmothers who put themselves last and my sweet children first.
So, women, can we make this Mother’s Day not about posturing and comparison? Can we honor all mothers, the moms who are still waiting, the moms who are mourning, the moms who made mistakes, and those who did their best? Can we stand beside our sisters who are hurting and love without exception? I think we can.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!
-
The Procrastination List
I have a problem. I’d love to tell you about it…another time.
Okay, here the thing, I procrastinate. There are just some things I do NOT want to do. Eventually they pile up, and I have to suffer through Procrastination Catch-up Day. Today is that day.
I started by making a list. After all, why not start by doing a task other than one of those pesky put off chores. So, I made my list and quickly came up with twenty-two items I’ve been avoiding. I’m sure I missed quite a few, but we’re not going to worry about that.
The list gives me an interesting picture. There’s nothing about writing, or reading, or exercising. I do those without being told. Many of the things revolve around communications, like letters that need writing, or phone calls that need making. Introvert to the end!
I can’t avoid the list any longer, even by writing this post, so off I go. I’ll start with number one then work my way down.
Maybe not. Number two doesn’t excite me. I can do that later.
What about you? Do you put off tasks? How do you catch up?
-
Taming the Dragon – Tips for Dragon Naturally Speaking
I use Grammarly for proofreading because my wrist is broken and sometimes Dragon Naturally Speaking listens as well as a four year-old boy.
Whether you are using Dragon Naturally Speaking out of choice, or due to circumstances, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your experience better.
1. Take time for training. Under audio, you will find a section called, “read text to improve accuracy.” The selections me feel long, but over time the improvement in Dragon’s ability to dictate your words is worth the investment. Take time each day to read one of the selections. When you complete the reading, Dragon will make changes to your profile. This takes some time, but the patient.
The alternative to training could be sentences like this: Where is the mother this little one Russian Mark are they running some kind of Dickerson in here?
I have no idea what I was really trying to say.
2. Create a list of your commonly used command. Learning Dragon is similar to learning another dialect. I want to say, “strike that,” but what I need to say is, “scratch that.” I can’t tell you how many times I saw strike that, strike that, strike that, typed across the page. Here’s a link to common commands.
3. Start with one paragraph at a time. You’re most likely going to end up with a few sentences like my example above. If you wait too long, you won’t have a clue what your original thought was. I know this isn’t the best way to write, but if you take the time now, eventually you’ll be freed, and you’ll be able to go for a page at a time without checking Dragon’s dictation. Be patient, time now will save you from much hair-pulling later.
After a couple of weeks using Dragon Naturally Speaking, I assure you, the program is another valuable tool for writers. It’s just not an instant solution to being one-handed.
Any other suggestions? Are you using Dragon? Have you considered starting?
-
Adventures of the One-handed Writer
“I have to write.”
I hear this from writers over and over again. I’ll be honest, I didn’t believe it. I mean, I love to write, but come on, I could stand a vacation. Then came the car accident.
A couple weeks ago I was driving my cute little Honda Civic down the road when another driver pulled out in front of me and we had one of those slow motion, crunching kind of collision. To the witnesses on the side of the road, I don’t think there was anything slow-motion about it. But you know how the brain works, the scariest moments, even if only a fraction of a second, seem to go on for the longest time.
What a blessing to find out that my girls and my other passenger were fine. And for the most part, I thought I was too. Except there was this ache in my pinky. And as the adrenaline began to wear off, the pain spread across my hand.
Two days later, I found myself sporting a bright pink cast to protect my broken wrist and sprained fingers. The worst part is not being able type.
You may be wondering how I’m writing this blog post. Am I really typing it out one letter at a time? Am I torturing one of my children by making them take my dictation?
Nope.
Today’s rambling comes to you through Dragon Naturally Speaking. The program and I haven’t become fast friends as of yet, but we’re communicating better than we were a week ago. Maybe by the time I actually get my hand back, the Dragon and I will no longer wants to part ways. But I don’t really think that will be the case.
So far our biggest argument is about how the Dragon insists upon typing out every word I scream at him when we argue.
Back to my original point. I was wrong. I have to write! Even if it means talking to myself in my empty living room, and hoping some software understands what I’m trying to say. And even if it means pecking out one letter at a time. Somehow, writing has become part of my identity.
And maybe there’s something else to learn. I will not be finishing the edits on my manuscript by the end of November, as I’d planned. The biography I’m working on for an exceptional woman, will not be printed this month. My floor will not be swept. Dishes will remain in the sink. And my bed, I think my bed may be lumpy through the whole process.
As annoying as this may be, I can’t help but think of how much worse it could have been. My girls and my other passenger came out of the accident with only seatbelt bruises. Thank God for seatbelts and well-made cars.
Two weeks later, I have a new car. It’s not cute and zippy, like the one that got munched, but it starts every time I turn the key. The other driver’s insurance is covering all our medical expenses. And casts come bright pink. The weather in Oregon has been unusually sunny this October, and I have time to walk in it. Last night I even managed to play pinochle.
Thanks for listening to me ramble on. A hope your day is blessed.
Christina
