I just came to a scary realization. While relaxing by myself on the couch, simultaneously writing and watching “Desperate Housewives,” I discovered that Lynette and I have a lot in common. Now hear me out. Last season, she gave up her high powered job as an advertising executive to open a pizza place and this season, they’ve fast forwarded the gals’ lives five years and suddenly Lynette finds herself face to face with a kid who used to be her assistant and he’s now running the ad campaign for Bree’s new book.
Truthfully, that’s exactly how I feel nowadays. After spending several days with a group of twentysomething PR representatives, I shared stories of all the projects I used to work on before I gave up my fancy title and midtown office and distinctly saw one of them rolling their eyes at me. They must have totally thought I was completely washed up. Frankly, after awhile I realized it was time to just walk away. I have outgrown corporate America – or at least the Jr. Account Executive ranks and I just have to stay confident that despite the rejection, the fear of failure and the frustration, I made the right choice to give up my conservative career to take a chance and embark on a new journey.
Regrets, sure I have a few but what I do know is this. Little by little I will be tossing one of my career paths aside so that I can focus on what I love – humor writing and music. I’m determined to write a musical and cast aside all the things I don’t want to work on anymore. It may not happen overnight, but one day it will and I’m not going to quit until I truly achieve my dream. I’ve already climbed the ladder and realized I was on the wrong roof. So now it’s time to start over and embrace the fear.
Mom of Reinvention…Author Lisa Holewa
What did you do before becoming a mom?
Lisa: I was a reporter for the Associated Press for almost ten years in Wisconsin, Michigan and Florida, where I covered everything from the insanity trial of Jeffrey Dahmer (in Wisconsin) to a national investigation of the foster care system (Michigan) to the deadly ValuJet plane crash in the Everglades, as well as hurricanes and wildfires and a national team investigation about migrant children laboring in our nation’s farm fields (Florida).
When did you decide to reinvent your life?
Lisa: When I was coordinating everything (daycare, etc.) to get back to work at the Florida AP after my oldest daughter, Maya, was born, I realized I really didn’t want to go back to work in that capacity. I’d kind of fallen into journalism many years earlier, and while I was incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had at the AP, I also knew it was time for me to move on and pursue my original goal of being a writer, as opposed to a news reporter. So I quit the AP after my maternity leave, and started to freelance. It was a long and hard road — and still is — but I’m so grateful I decided to take the plunge (which was quite a scary one for my family, as I was more or less considered the “real” wage earner in our family at the time — my husband is a boat captain and his work tended to be more erratic, fewer benefits, less security, etc.)
How have your children influenced your career path, and how many do you have?
Lisa: We now have three children, ages nine, five and four. They’ve completely altered my career path, but in the very best way. I feel like they’ve given me this opportunity to reinvent myself, which I never would have done on my own, without their presence and influence.
What’s your favorite Time Out tip for moms?
Lisa: This is a hard one for me, as I’m not the greatest at taking time for myself. I do enjoy going for walks in the evening, through a wooded area near our home in South Milwaukee, Wis. down to a secluded beach along Lake Michigan. Watching the lake change through the seasons is incredible, and it seems like something new is waiting for me there every day. I tend to go a little stir crazy on the days I don’t get my walks!
What does your website offer moms or kids?
Lisa: A whole ton of great stuff — suggestions and ideas from the very best early childhood teachers in the nation on everything from how to establish routines to how to handle transitions to answering questions about school experiences and providing suggestions from great classrooms on wonderful books to read with kids. It’s at www.WhatTeachersKnow.com and there is also a blog. I’m in the process of redesigning the site, and the new site should be online by the end of this month.
Who is Your Role Mommy?
Lisa: We’re so lucky that there are a ton of wonderful women in the world today who are just fabulous and inspiring role mommys. The ones who have touched my life and parenting most directly are probably my closest friends, who range from a stay-at-home mom who is an amazing portrait artist to a very busy working mom who is a powerful bank executive to my old college roommate who juggles her own family with her work as an incredibly busy pediatrician and health advocate to a friend who is a professor of Spanish and raising her two daughters to be bilingual. (There are a ton of amazing mommies out there!)
Want to win a copy of Lisa’s book? Then send in a comment or a personal story of reinvention and you could be a winner!
Sarah Palin on SNL
In case you missed Sarah Palin on SNL yestereday, have no fear. We tracked this down on the L.A. Times which even give the lyrics to the rap song those hilarious writers came up with for Palin which Amy Poehler performed. Plus, we’ve got the opening monologue too so check it out and enjoy!
Opening sketch with Sarah Palin, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin and of course, Tina Fey!
Halloween with Hasbro
I know we’re less than two weeks away from the most sugary day of the year (that would be Halloween of course), so I wanted to let you in on a cool offering straight from the folks at Hasbro. This year, some of your kids (and mine) favorite classic toys – from Mr. Potato Head to Playdoh are getting in on the action. Before you slip on costumes and head out trick or treating, you can get your kids into the Halloween spirit by decorating their very own Trick or Tater – that would be Mr. Potato Head in costume. Or you can create fun Halloween shapes with playdoh. So if you’re looking for an activity that doesn’t involve sour gummy worms or $100 princess costumes, then head out to your local toy store today and pick up a Hasbro Halloween goody bag for your kids (and yourself too)! Plus, if you’d like to give away something other than candy this year, check out the Hasbro website – they have a ton of great products you can drop into those goodie bags that’ll still make all your Halloween visitors smile.