Mommy Life and the continual “Artist Struggle”
I’m sitting here on a Wednesday morning in my pj’s, on the couch, sipping a warm cup of coffee, with my 2 year old son watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and playing with his IKEA train set. And of course- on my laptop writing this blog and ceremoniously checking emails and trying to “Get ahead”, brainstorm, and create/record music.
Life is such an interesting journey. My son is the most important person in my life, and I just love him so much. Part of me wants to get on the ground and play with him (which I often do) but part of me wants to stay right here just so grateful that he’s now playing by himself and I can get a little work done!
I find everyday a tedious balance between getting work done I need to get done, songwriting, recording, teaching music, personal bible study time and prayer time, working out, eating healthy, housework (that’s at the end of my list on purpose!lol), etc etc- and then somedays we just say WHATEVER and get in the car and go to a park, see horses at the local stables, get a coffee to go (for me, not for him…well, ok he does ask for a sip!)
Being an independent musician and also a “Stay at home” mom is such a funny thing. The whole independent “artist” thing can be TOTALLY consuming, especially with the internet! There’s always another song you could write, another email you could send, another phone call you could make, etc etc etc..AHHHHHHH.
Having a child has actually brought more balance, not to talk about love, fun, my heart being full everyday- to my life! I think it’s helped me take the time to do the things I need to do to help provide for my family, as well as say no to things, I probably should’ve said no to before (unpaid gigs, stupid meetings with people who say they’re something but not that I should’ve researched, and so on and so forth), but because I didn’t have my precious little one at home and a loving husband- I just did those things because I could.
So, now I have to make very exact lists of what do with my time, when I actually get the time. Specific calls to make to booking agents, venues that PAY, managers, and all sorts of industry folk that I need to speak with to get ahead. But now, when the little guys are sleeping, I make my lists for the next day, copy and paste the numbers and emails I need to call the next day into my calendar. I think I’ve actually gotten it TOGETHER!
When I go out for a gig, I have a suitcase I roll that’s loaded with everything I’ll need from merchandise, to cables, mics, and a baggie of things I may need like black tape, bungee cords, scissors, markers, and lots of other goodies! It’s not that I never had those things in my gig bag before- but now they’re all in one little place and I’ve finally organized! I can’t tell you how much easier it makes my gigging life!
On top of that for gigs I have to take a sound system to (which is most of them), I also have a rock-n-roller cart- this thing is MY BEST FRIEND at gigs, and better than my best friend in the sense that it can hold up to 1000 lbs! lol. (although there’s nothing like a best friend at a gig, because although they can’t carry as much in one load as my cart, they can carry me through a lame gig where no one shows up or claps!lol). So seriously, if you’re a gigging, or want to be gigging musician- you NEED this cart! Best $100 I ever spent!
So, I’ve actually gotten all this stuff together since having my adorable 2 year old son and buddy! So although I definitely have less time on my hands to do my music stuff, when I do do my music stuff (don’t you love saying do do as a mommy), I think I do do it better (twice in one sentence- that’s amazing!).lol
On top of all that, I will say that sometimes in the past I was a bit flakey as a music teacher. I would cancel, even if it was legit, but parents would get frustrated. Now that I am a parent, I totally understand why! So being a mommy has really helped me be more consistent in that aspect as well. You now understand what moms and dads have to go through just to get a kid, let alone any other kids in the car with them, home, let alone to an appointment!
Well, I better get back to checking emails and changing the video on the TV to Handy Manny so that Weston keeps playing! :) Well he’s on my lap. No more time to write! :) But it’s ok, he’s sitting on my lap and just leaned in to kiss me! :)
I’ll leave you with a video of exactly what it’s like to try to get a video recorded while home with the little guy! (Note: I jut redid my music studio and it’s now video friendly not the mess in this clip)
