Strut your stuff

There are many days that I wonder whether it’s worth it to work. Generally, they are the days where my email is silent as my three year old is in school and my son naps, only to start beeping like crazy as I get email after email from editors demanding instant changes – once my son is awake and only wants to be held and my daughter is begging me to play chase, of course. They are the days when it is beautiful out, and my part-time babysitter gets to take my kids to the park while I sit up in my home office trying to finish an article. And then there’s tax time, when a year’s worth of untaxed paychecks come back to haunt me. Some days, it really doesn’t seem worth it.

But then, an opportunity comes along that I wouldn’t get if I didn’t work. Last month, it was a chance to sit down and chat with Katie Couric. Last Sunday, I had the chance to participate in a mother-child fashion show at Macy's at Herald Square, presented by RoleMommy in honor of women who pursue their passions while raising children.

Before walking the runway in a stunning dress by Tahari (if only we got to keep our clothes!) and as my three year old danced happily around in a cute outfit from Baby Phat, I had the chance to talk with some of the other moms. Some I knew from NYC Moms Blog, including Nancy Friedman, who has the most adorable daughter. But most were women I was just meeting, and all were fascinating. It was a diverse group that included writers, business women, a soap star and a vice president of Autism Speaks, an amazing not-for-profit organization.

Being surrounded by such smart, talented women reminded me why I still work as a freelance writer. It’s not just for the opportunities to meet celebrities or have an excuse for a night out. Working exposes me to different people and ideas that I wouldn’t have if all I did was stay home. That’s not to knock women who don’t work – I love every minute of the diaper-changes, impromptu dance parties, and outings to the zoo that take up most of my day. But I love that I still have a part of me that’s separate from my kids and my husband, that is all mine, and that I can escape to for a few hours every day. And if it also gives me a chance to strut my stuff on a catwalk with my daughter at my side, so much the better.

An original NYC Moms Blog Post