One Word (Reverb 10)

Kim over at KimberlyMichelle posted about Reverb 10, but it wasn't until I saw the first blog post with the above prompt (One Word), that I started thinking on the topic and the idea of Reverb 10.  With that being said, I am going to do my darndest to participate every day.

The prompt for 12/1/10 is One Word.  One word that describes the past year for you, and one word that you hope will describe your coming year.  

So, without further ado....

A word for 2010: Erudition

Yes, this is a strange word, seeing as how I have already matriculated various times.  But this year brought me a new child, just 18 days after the new year was rang in.  It also brought me joblessness.  Which was a very experience for me.  Day after day brought new challenges, as my second child didn't "work" like my first one, and I was trying to implement everything I did with Charlie, only to find out, it's not the same when there is a second little body in the house.  Interruptions, distractions, and noises were a frequent part of my life.  Without the respite of a job, peers, or family to rely on, I had to learn how to be a stay-at-home mom who didn't go completely bonkers.  

I suppose all of that sounds really awful and depressing.  But it wasn't (at least not all of it!).  It was just different.  A new learning experience.  A chance to me to do something new with my life that I had always wanted to.  I learned a new side of multi-tasking.  I learned that you cannot read Richard Scarry too many times.  I learned that the laughter that Charlie can pull out of Lily is absolutely priceless.  I learned that potty training my own child is much harder than training other kids. I learned that cloth diapering is easy, and big butts are cute!  I learned how to cook supper every night and send Jason to work with lunch every day. I learned that even with our income cut in half, I was infintately happier at home with my children.

A word for 2011: Fulfillment

All of the the above being said, I have felt like something has been missing this year.  I've worked for the past 16 years, with no more than a month not working at any given time.  To go 12 months were my only job is raising my children was...difficult.

I hope that this time next year brings me mental and emotional stability.  I hope that I have a job that will fulfill the need I have to interact with professional peers, to assist others the way I have been educated and trained to do, to expand my mind learning new techniques and ideas in my field.  And with those dreams comes the hope that I can balance it with my home life, and lead a full and balanced life, even if it is slightly chaotic.