I am a wife. My husband adores me as I adore him. My husband supports me as I support him. When I saw the care and tenderness he offered to my child, and I imagined the wonderful step-father I knew he could be, I fell for him and I fell hard. I am a wife, yet I am also an individual. I crave solitude. A quiet hour in a bubble bath with a good book and a glass of cheap boxed wine is my respite.
I am a mother. My daughters make me weep with joy and happiness. My oldest has been my partner, my buddy, for over a decade. She has embraced this new life with her step-father and baby sister. My youngest has been a cherished addition to our family. Pla
nned, yet unexpected, she is the child I had almost given up hope of ever having. I am a mother, yet I am also a daughter. Thirty-some years later, I am still supported, encouraged, and loved by my parents. They are the examples by which I raise my own children.
I am an introvert. I am hard to get to know and I have a tendency to withhold my ideas, my thoughts, my opinions. I hesitate to offer them up freely. However, ask me a question. Show genuine interest. That is when I open up. Like many introverts, I often feel as if I stumble over my words, struggling to form eloquent sentences with intelligent content. Thus, I write. I prefer to take the time to carefully craft my words. I am much more effective with written communication than with verbal communication. I am an introvert, yet I can be an extrovert when necessary. I have taught classes and facilitated workshops for years. I serve on the board of our local MOMS Club. Our world expects us to interact and play well with others. So I push aside any lingering shyness, any hermit tendencies, just long enough to get through my responsibilities. Then I return home to the solitude of my bubble bath.
I am a Career Counselor. I may not share much about myself, but I will gladly talk with you about your interests, your values, your learning style, your personality. I will eagerly brainstorm career possibilities as you contemplate what you want to be when you grow up. I will teach you how to research different careers, how to write a resume and cover letter, and how to interview effectively. I am a Career Counselor, yet I am unemployed. I am currently choosing the good life as a stay-at-home mom. My own career aspirations have been put on hold, voluntarily. I have traded in a 40-hour work week for a 24-hour work day and I love every second of every minute of every hour.
I am a traveler. I have been to many places throughout the world. I look forward to the journeys we will take as a family and I am eager to introduce my children to new places and cultures. I am a traveler, yet I am also a homebody. I love being at home. When I am not traveling, I do not ven
ture out of the house much. It’s as if I save up all my adventurous spirit for one big shebang of a vacation. I’ll endure 48 hours of planes, trains, and automobiles to get to a remote village in Ethiopia. I’ll rappel and zip-line my way through Mexico. I’ll spend months sleeping in tents and cars all over Europe. And then I’m done and I’m home and I want to stay home. So please don’t ask me to go camping with you this weekend as I intend to relax in my bubble bath.
I am fearful. I am terrified of spiders. I don’t like scary movies. I anxiously imagine the terrible things that could befall myself and my loved ones. I fear rejection, failure, and disappointing others. In fact, I tend to be harder on myself than I am on others. I am fearful, yet I am also brave. I willingly face my fears. I earned a black belt in Taekwondo despite the apprehension I experienced during every single sparring match. I shoved aside my fear of cracked ribs, broken bones, and mean burly girls and spent four months on a roller derby team simply out of a desire to try a new experience. Overcoming a fear is often the best motivator. Except for spiders. I still do not deal with spiders. That is, and always will be, the husband’s domain.
I am a learner. I enjoy reading. I enjoy learning to blog. I often miss life as a student. I am a learner, yet I am also a teacher. I teach my children facts, morals, and values. Most importantly, I teach my children how to love.
-Heather, from My Husband Ate All My Ice Cream
"I agree with Heather. It did read like a resume and didn't feel very personable. Don't aim for a hallmark card. Most people can't stand reading that kind of writing style for...well..long at all.
Be you, but be straightforward. Too much of that writing style and you come off as snooty or 'literary' which is death to a blog."
-Allison, from SVALLIE.NET: The Nerd Connection
"The little one is so cute I just want to play patty-cake all day with her. Beautiful family you have.
I too loved the bold to emphasize the characteristics. It really added something to it like that is what you truly believe about yourself. And that shows a strong character.
The image placement was perfect too. The balance between the two sides allows for great display without interrupting the flow of the post.
Great Job! "
-The Dude, from The Daddyyo Blog