Catching Days
Just finished a thought provoking book…on writing…and motherhood…and writing about it.
Most writing genre books are rich sources for writing and life lessons. But Writing Motherhood is somehow completely different in that I want, beg, plead with you to read this book. Read it cover to cover, skim through, or glance at it every now and again…because if you do, you will find a way to capture precious, fleeting moments in your life before they evaporate from your mind.
Don't worry if you are "not a writer" — this is about writing down the stories of YOUR LIFE in YOUR VOICE. And the beauty of this book is Lisa Garrigues provides endless prompts for getting started. In every communication course I ever took, there was an emphasis on storytelling. Come to think of it, my favorite professors were all wonderful storytellers. Stories hold our attention. They tell us how we got from there to here. They allow us to make sense of our lives. We remember stories and long to hear them over and over. If you only wrote down 10 stories your whole life, the detail and emotion caught on paper would far exceed all the photos you have. Your children will want to hear the stories you write long after you finish. As the author says, "our hands are hardwired to our hearts."
Originally, I was going to let this book ruminate in my mind over the weekend. But as I have surfed my emails, Facebook, Twitter, etc., it seems there is one thing on everyone's mind: Summer has come and gone again, and all too quickly. There are tears as kids head off to school. And it began to feel urgent that I share with you this book. What better way to hold onto time than writing down the very bones of a day, conversation, or expression.
These are some of my favorite starting point suggestions:
Tell me everything you know about motherhood.
Write down the recipe for a meal you cook regularly.
What did you pack for your last trip?
Write about a time you moved.
What does your child want to be when he or she grows up?
Describe a time you watched your child through a window.
Write about holding hands.
Brown bag lunches.
Write about a favorite (or fearsome) teacher.
Write about the mother next door.
Write about bedtime.
If I knew then what I know now…
Write about a rule you enforce.
Write about a high fever.
I don't want my children to know…
These are the things I will never forget…
I invite you to start writing your stories today…
