Wednesday, October 5, 2011

What Was Left On The Cutting Room Floor

I was flattered recently to be interviewed by children's book author Anna Deskins, for her blog. She writes about me as a "Mommy Blogger" which I suppose I am, although I am still somewhat shocked to find me associated with Mommy anywhere, happily shocked. While I'd like to think that I cover so much more, at the end of the day, my life, for the foreseeable future, really revolves around my children. Accepting that has been like accepting the fact that my feet grew two shoes sizes when I was pregnant.

A few of my favorite questions, and answers, did not make the final cut, but I saved them here, which is what Mommies do, save things.

AD: A lot mom's are so overwhelmed and dream of being able to accomplish their dreams, whether it's doing their own blog or becoming an entrepreneur. What advice do you have for them?

NSF: Make your children part of those dreams. I’m working on a book, a memoir, and the girls and I write together, they have journals, just as I do. They will surely be published first, they are very dedicated. They should be answering this question.

AD: It seems that people know everything about us, especially if we blog. Does your family ever beg you not to spill details about their lives on your blog?

NSF: My husband says no. He’s a grown up, he can handle it, and he’s funny, so I enjoy writing about Handy Jack and his complete and udder befuddlement with regard to the sport of ice dancing. The girls don’t understand yet but I do consider what I say about them and try to do my best to not magnify anything in their lives that could be humiliating or embarrassing. I don’t write about potty training. Kate wants to be a Senator someday, her secrets are safe with her mother.

AD: As you know, I'm a children's book author, what are some of your favorite children's books you used to read to your kids?

NSF: We still read together! We just started a book about Benjamin Franklin because we are going to Philadelphia in a few weeks. The books with staying power, those that we turn to again and again? Lyle, Lyle Crocodile by Bernard Waber; George and Martha by James Marshall; Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobell; John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith; Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans; and our very favorite, A Little Country Town by Jandelyn Southwell, the most perfect book to take us out of the city on occasion.

You see a pattern, so many of their favorites were favorites of mine so many years ago, books I remember reading with my grandmother. Books are a wonderful way to share my life with my children.

And that is the rest of the story. My thanks to Anna Deskins, and Jeff Rivera, who introduced us.

2 comments:

Marion Williams-Bennett said...

Beautiful interview, I like her insights and her literature choices - she seems to have a fondness for stories of good friends (George and Martha, Frog and Toad!)

I think you are a writer who writes about life, which is largely - but not solely - focussed on motherhood. Calling you a Mommy Blogger feels to narrow for way you see things and the way you write about them!

off to read the rest of the article...

northsidefour said...

Thank you! That makes me feel better about being categorized as a Mommy Blogger, even though the bulk of what I write is child centered. And the book choices are mine, my answers, and yes, I see now that my favorites are about good friends, so let's add Toot and Puddle to the mix!

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