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Let Them See You Write

By

allumewriting2

As mothers, it is so important to share with our children our dreams, passions, and talents. If you sing in the church choir, are part of a softball league, or lead storytime at the local library, would you take your children with you? Of course you would! So why is writing any different? So often we feel guilty for pulling out our laptops in front of our kids. Let’s change the reason why–show them what you are putting out for the world to see in black and white. Make your words real for them. Here are a few great reasons why:

1. It carries on a legacy.

When I was a little girl, I stayed at my grandfather’s feet as he pounded out his heart on that old word processor amidst the soft anthems of show tunes and classical music. He would bring out family, honest faith, and any and all things Southern onto those crisp pieces of paper. When he would complete his latest work, we would glide down the hill to the newspaper office to submit his weekly column to our hometown newspaper, the LaFollette Press. People would see him out and about and approach him like he was a celebrity. Why? He was just a small town man. But his words meant something to someone. And sometimes words are all we have. Now, thanks to his legacy, those passions instilled in me at such a young age are coming to fruition. I now write a column for the same paper. And when the children and I drive down that same, familiar road to pick up our copy on Thursdays, they beg me to read it to them before we ever leave the parking lot.

You are your family’s historian! May we continue to tell the tales that bind hearts and encourage souls.

2. It inspires greatness. 

A few weeks ago, the children and I set up a lemonade stand to help the victims of tornadoes in Oklahoma through our “50 State Prayer Project”.  Once we returned from our sales and I sat down to share our story, I invited our oldest child to sit with me and shared with her my blog for the first time. I explained to her the heart behind it, how the Lord fuels the words, and how it is named after her. A few hours later, I found her writing feverishly on 3×5 index cards. When I inquired of her latest project, she explained that she was “working on her website, and it is all about pictures, art, and keeping your house clean”. She wants to inspire greatness in others, even with crayons and paper. We have also been journaling back and forth, where I will ask a simple question in her journal at night, leave the journal in front of her bedroom door, and she responds in the morning with her “answer”. These are dreams we are recording on a daily basis!

May we all have record of where we are going and where we are from. Sharing our hearts can be the greatest of gifts.

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3. It is a cure for writer’s block.

I went through a period of time earlier this year when I struggled with writer’s block terribly. I felt my column submissions were dry and boring at best, and my blog was less than inspiring. In a moment of desperation, I asked my children one morning (after five cups of coffee and several handfuls of chocolate chips..) what people would love to read about in the paper that week. They gave me enough ideas for the next three weeks of columns. It has become so commonplace for me to ask now that a few weeks ago, when we were heading for the splash park, my son declared that he was wearing a “naked shirt” when he was shirtless. We all laughed and my daughter said, “Mommy? You should write about that!” What was next week’s column about? Yes. THE NAKED SHIRT. Not sure how those old men at Hardee’s enjoyed that particular article, but it was a great idea from my five year old, so I went with it.

Children see the world differently than we do. Explore their thoughts; they may have something in mind we would have completely missed if we had failed to ask!

Friend, you are a WRITER. This is a big deal! Who are we without words to explain our very being? And sharing these words with the next generation instills in their hearts and minds what you love doing most and reminds us of the past and allows us to smile at the future. Your life, your family; we all have something to share.  Gather around, kids. We have a story to write.

Comments

  1. I love everything about this! How your grandpa shared and inspired your passion, how you are doing the same for your littles, and for those who read what you write. Beautiful! And I love the journal idea with your daughter – what precious memories are being formed 🙂

    • Thank you! Papa was a man to watch: everything he did was a story unfolding 🙂 The journal is super fun,and I cannot wait to see how it will grow as she gets older!

  2. This is absolutely wonderful, Christie. Our children learn what they live, and so often they don’t get to see the how, what and why of our work. Having your children beg to read your column each week? A priceless image!

    I love how writing has come down through the your family, and now your daughter is designing her site. Just too sweet! To have our families so tuned in and supportive of our writing that they are suggesting topics: Squeeee! Thanks for the smile this morning, especially about the Naked Shirt. Heh.

    • He STILL says “naked shirt”, I have a feeling it will be a household saying from now on;) Your encouragement is priceless to me, Kim.Thanks so much!

  3. In tears this morning, Christie. How fantastic that you write a column for the same paper your grandfather did. And thanks for the encouragement to share this writing thing with our kids. I write journals FOR them, but not with them yet. I love that idea and will tuck it in my back pocket.

    One day several months ago, I sat down at the keyboard and let my little girl (3 years old) dictate a story. She wrote three of them in a matter of 10 minutes. It was amazing to witness, and you’ve reminded me to keep encouraging her in that way. Loved this!!!

    • Isn’t it amazing what they can come up with in a matter of minutes, when I am sitting there pulling my hair out trying to figure out the next column submission?! It’s like their minds are uncluttered with “stuff”, just filled with fun stories 🙂

  4. This is so great, Christie. I love how you share your family history with your children and what you do now–this is inspirational, my friend!

    • Thanks Kris! I hope they will remember much about their childhood from what we are writing “together” at this very moment!

  5. Absolutely! My dad is an author, so I grew up seeing him in front of his computer all the time, and when he wasn’t there he was at the printing press (he also published his own writings). We helped make his books as a family. I’m not scarred in any way because of how much time my Dad spent on his computer. 🙂 In fact, I knew he was doing something worthwhile. Likewise, I talk to my children about what I’m writing. They know that I published my first book this year, and I’ve included them in the process and showed them the pictures of cover design, etc. They are only 6 and 4 but off they went to make “books” of their own, and I was so impressed with how they turned out! I plan to include writing/book skills in our homeschool this fall. Why not get them writing at an early age? BTW, I LOVE the journal idea!

    • Oooh! I just love that you have such fond memories of your father writing. Yes, I totally plan to include more writing/journaling in our homeschool this fall as well. And who knows, maybe web design for 1st graders?;)

  6. My kids see me writing plenty. I realized the other day that they rarely
    see me reading (my Bible, sitting at the Lord’s feet) though, so I’m
    working on being much more intentional in finding balance in what they
    see there!(I LOVE your back and forth journal idea and may start this with my daughter soon!)

    • That is a VERY good point! I usually read before they awaken in the morning and after they go to bed at night, need to involve them more in that area as well. The journal is super fun; let me know when you begin!

  7. For awhile I played with the idea (and the practices) of writing children’s books. This is a frustrating field, and I started to consider it ‘wasted time.’ But then one day my then-four-year-old said, “Mommy, I am writing a book”, and she dictated a story to me and then illustrated it. This was the first of many books for her because she considers it a normal thing to do.

    Her work makes every moment of my own work worth it.

    • This is precious: “Her work makes every moment of my own work worth it”. Sounds like your biggest fan is just feet away from you! Write that book, sister!

  8. Love this! My kids love to sit on my lap when I’m in the middle of writing. Even though it can be somewhat distracting to my train of thought. I always welcome the distraction. 🙂

    • That is such a sweet mental picture, balancing the two year olds, laptop, and coffee takes super powers! Press on,friend!

  9. Oh such good reminders, Christie! Thank you. I’ve realized I need to start reading my blog posts out loud to my kids–especially the ones I write as letters to them! No need for them to wait until they are older to hear the words I penned to them: they can hear my love expressed for them in written form right now.

    Thank you for this!

    • I think my kids secretly love to hear stories about themselves,it makes them feel important. I bet they’d love to hear your writings to them!

  11. I love this Christie, and I agree completely. I’ve been a mom for 24 years and writing at home for 20! (And all my adult kids are great writers, too!)

    • Gosh Tricia, I remember last year at Allume writing so fast during your session that my pen practically caught my notebook on fire 😉 You have SO MUCH writing wisdom that no wonder your children have taken up the craft!

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