Cool:
- Tell your friends your mother writes books. Have them convinced you’re a liar. Have Mom verify later she actually does write. Maximum impact!
- Your name is in actual, printed books (because Mom can’t resist putting you in the book somehow.)
- You meet other writers sometimes.
Not Cool:
- The teacher will definitely ask Mom to teach a class on writing at some point during the school year. And your mom can be soooo embarrassing.
- If your mom is a writer, you always have to do your reading and English homework.
- Your teacher will write notes on ‘B’-grade essays that say, “I know you can write better than this.”
- Sometimes you have to go to conferences or book signings. These are tedious and even Mom doesn’t look like she’s having fun.
- If you’re at a dental appointment after school, you can’t claim you can’t do your homework because you don’t have a pencil. Mom has at least fifty pencils in her massive pocketbook.
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. I’m taking a short blog break for Christmas and reposting some of my older posts from 2009. Thanks so much to everyone for making my blogging year a happy one.
And…my friend and fellow Midnight Ink author, Keith Raffel, is guest blogging for me at the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen this morning. Hope you can pop over. He’s got salmon with almonds that’s ready to serve!
Elizabeth – It is definiitely an experience having a mom who’s a writer. I know for us, my daughter would add:
Cool: Your mom – your mom -is “on stage” talking about her book and people actually want her to sign a book like she’s famous or something.
Not Cool: Your mom just has to tell everyone how happy she is that you’re there, and then make everyone look at you by pointing you out. Sigh. Sonot cool!
Great post! My kids are older, so they’re not embarrassed. Instead, they’re rooting for me all the way. It’s a beautiful thing. ;-)
Cute post. Thanks for the laugh first thing this morning. I can just image the facial expressions that go with the “Not Cool” parts.
Hilarious, Elizabeth! I will carry your words of wisdom (and Margot’s, too) with me so that I don’t embarrass my children. I’m sure I’ll manage to shame them, somehow, though. Thanks for this!
This blog is so funny and yet so true. I don’t think my son has told anyone I write and that’s because I don’t tell anyone I write. My son is a lot like me though, he’ll probably be a writer someday.
ann
Aw, I can think of a couple more ‘cool’ things there…
I can’t for my kids to tell all the joys and horrors of me being an author!
Have a Happy New Year!
I will have to remember these to torture my children later! Thank you for the laugh! Hope your holiday break is going well.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Elizabeth – Me again – Just wanted you to know there is an award for you on my blog.
Cute post, Elizabeth. Some day, there will be only the cool aspects of having a writer mom.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Margot–Ha! I love it! Pointing them out is a BIG no-no! But it’s fun, isn’t it? :)
Debra–That’s cool! It’s nice to have a built-in fan club.
Mason–I bet you can! There’s lot of eye rolling going on.
Ann–I was a closet writer for years. Popping out of the writing closet is an interesting exercise. It helps to keep you on track sometimes: “What are you writing now? When will THAT be coming out? Are you still writing mysteries? When will you try something new?” :) I’ll have to blog on that…
Bobbi–I’m thinking there’s hardly any way to avoid embarrassing them. :)
Diane–I tried to think of some, but really? In a kid’s eyes, the coolness is limited.
Tamika–I guess my kids thought it was cooler at first. As time has gone on, Mom has gotten less interesting!
Michele–The funny thing is that I embarrass them most when I’m not even trying to!
Margot–Aren’t you sweet! Thanks so much.
Helen–Maybe then I can embarrass my grandkids. :)