Yay, today’s Welcome Mat Wednesday guest is one of my favorite girls with whom to eat barbeque chicken pizza, go to London, watch 24, go on walks in blizzards, see Coldplay in concert, make birthday cakes, go rollerblading down dorm hallways, drink tea, eat nutella…oh the list could go on and on!
Deciding what’s on top (and bottom)
I have never thought so much about poop in my life.
What color? How much? When was the last time?
So a while ago, some guys I know seriously threw around the idea of starting a blog called the Daily Dump, featuring once-a-day photos of, well you get the idea.
My reaction: “Ewwwwww…”
But now, as a new mom, poop has taken on a whole new meaning.
When faced with a tiny human being whom you love immensely but who can’t communicate his needs, you have to use whatever clues you can find.
It just so happens a lot of those clues can be found in his diaper.
Don’t believe me? Just Google “my baby’s poop…” and you’ll have enough reading material to keep you busy for at least 366 dumps, er, days.
All this to say, my life has changed.
Things that didn’t matter to me suddenly are on my top 10 list.
And things that used to be priority got bumped down a few rungs on the To Do list, and, more likely, to the “Ha-ha-that’s-funny-I-used-to-have-time-to-think-about-that” list.
 |
| Isn’t Maggie’s baby Ray cute? |
One was a pretty hard change for me to swallow.
I work at a daily newspaper in Le Mars, Iowa, interviewing interesting people, writing stories, taking photos, covering events.
It’s a lot of fun most days — sometimes I compare it to being on Mr. Rogers — getting to tour the ice cream cone factory and flying in a military helicopter.
After several years there, I went from reporter to editor — with great trepidation. Organization is in another universe from my strong suits. And I’m not really a take-charge person.
But with good mentorships and learning from mistakes, being editor became a job I loved, and I was proud of my work.
When Baby Ray came along eight months ago today, I knew I had to let go.
My husband and I had figured out we could make it on his salary and a part-time job writing for the paper for me, so I could be home most of the time with Ray.
But to do that, I had to step down from being editor.
It was then I realized how much of my identity doing that job had become. I actually liked being in charge, making the final calls, doing the last proof and letting the print guys know they could run the presses. I liked the respect from people in the community. I liked being boss.
But, with the arrival of a tiny, squealing, precious little boy, God showed me that what I was holding onto most was my pride. I needed to die to myself a little.
Have you ever decided to give up something that has become part of who you are so you can better pursue a new thing God has brought in your life? What was that like for you?
I think it’s scary.
But you know what? It’s been the most amazing blessing. Yes, I do miss being in the editor’s chair now and then.
But there’s a lot I’m not missing out on.
Including diapers.
Five-foot-two and occasionally mistaken for a high schooler or even a girl scout, Magdalene Landegent is a new mom to an 8-month-old boy, wife of three years and contributing editor at a daily paper in Le Mars, Iowa. In each of those roles, she’s finding that the path to real maturity involves coming face to face with your lack of it. Magdalene enjoys traveling with family and friends, jogging, playing disc golf with her husband, making her son Ray giggle, baking and eating the batter, and meeting new people and telling their stories through her job at the newspaper.
Comments 20
Wow, this is a really inspiring post. I’ve been married 5 years and we don’t have kids yet, but want them in a few years. I confess, I’ve always kind of built my identity around what I’ve achieved or what successes I’ve had in my job and school…so the idea of being a mom and staying home with my kids scares me just a little bit. I’m glad to know that there are ways to juggle it a little bit. A good friend of mine talked recently to me about how being a mom is such a sacrifice, especially if you have a career you love (I’m an editor too!). So, when the time comes, I think it will take some work, but I know that God is good and he’ll help me through it. 🙂 Nice to meet you, Magdalene!
I’m like you, Lindsay…it’s so easy to think of myself in terms of what I “do.” But what about when what you do goes through a massive change? I think it’s then we’re reminded our identity comes from Christ…our priorities shift as seasons change, but the core of our identities remains with Him.
Yay for editors!
Baby Ray is so adorable. Down here, in Memphis, Sweet Baby Ray is a BBQ sauce. But then again, it’s Memphis, so everything revolves around BBQ. 🙂
Not that this is as big as stepping down from an important position, but I had to give up going to ACFW (writing conference) this past year because my husband needed to go back to Thailand on a Missions trip. It was a dose of pride swallowing b/c turns out, not everything is about me. Imagine that!
Tagg, I love Nutella too!
Baby Ray is such a fitting name for little Ray because Maggs and I share a love for BBQ sauce. I mean, I happen to know that’s not why she named him that (after a grandfather, right, Maggie?)…still…it adds extra happiness to his name.
I hope you get to go to ACFW this year!!! If you do, I’ll bring a jar of nutella along to share. 🙂
Okay, you’re so swaying me with the Nutella! 🙂
So timely.
This past summer, I walked away from my position as the editor of an internationally-known magazine.
It was tough.
Tough because I loved being the editor.
Tough because I loved “being” the editor.
I loved the tasks … and the position.
Your post said it all so well.
But God so clearly nudged (shoved) me out the door and into the next thing — and that gave me a whole lot of peace in the transition.
You, Beth, are a perfect example of someone who let go of one thing to jump into something else…readers of your novels will thank you. 🙂 Way to keep rocking those word counts, too!
Ten years ago, I put fiction writing aside and co-wrote an abstinence curriculum, because that’s what I felt God wanted me to do. I loved it, but was so glad when He released me to writing fiction again!
Great post, Melissa. Enjoyed meeting Maggie.
I’m so glad God brought you back to fiction, Pat…otherwise I wouldn’t know you. 🙂
So all this talk about BBQ and Nutella is making me feel STARVING…
It’s so encouraging to hear you gals’ stories — I got to read them while Baby Ray is taking a nap. It’s so true. It’s not all about ME. It’s all about Jesus being king of our hearts.
For a second there I imagined bbq and nutella together…not quite as appetizing. Sidenote: I cleaned out my cupboards the other day and found a jar of nutella that expired over a year ago. Umm, how did I not realize I had that?
Maggie, Thanks for the “colorful” post. It was wonderful to read about how God helped you “loose” the hold on your job of full time editor. I know those times of transition can sometimes “stink” but in the “end” you sense the fragrant “aroma” of God bringing a wonderful “change” into your life. It is wonderful to hear of your “firm” commitment to family. While the “movement” to spending more time with baby Ray may have felt like a “sticky” situation at first, it sounds like you have made a “clean” break with pride. On occasion it may still “blowout” but I know God in His faithfulness will “wash” that “stain” right out!
Anyway……..you are a great mom by the sound of it. You have been a wonderful friend to Melissa. I am so thankful for that. I miss seeing you. Thank you for the thoughtful note you sent awhile back. And Melissa, all this talk about BQ sauce has me thinking that it’s time for you to share your sauce story if you haven’t already. It is so funny!!
Mom, you are hilarious!
Ooh, the sauce story…now you’ve got me brainstorming ways I could make a blog post out of that!!
Oh. My. Goodness. I MISS YOU Sherrie Tagg! It sounds to me like you have a “load” of experience up this alley!
Melissa, we now know where you get your sense of humor from 🙂 That was a fantastic!
I know! I don’t think we’ve ever had such a, um, vivid comment before. I also have to applaud Mom for using so many of the five senses in her post. I need that to rub off on my writing!
Melissa, Maggs, nutella, bbq…all in one post?!?! LOVE!!!!!
The only element that would’ve made it a better blog post? Our third member of our college trio…the one Maggs and I left behind when we went off to London. I’m so glad you didn’t permanently replace us that year. 🙂 We need a reunion…one that includes, yes, nutella and bbq. Throw in some curry for good measure and we’re set.
Maggie, I struggle with the same issue you have. I wonder why (me included) thinks it is a step down to leave the professional world to rear children? It is a great task to raise a child. Full of struggles, joys, hardships, laughter, and poop! I want to get lost in the world of fiction whether it be writing it or reading it, but I am called to be lost in the world of my children. Raise them to be men in Christ’s likeness. That is an important job.
Maggie, you still get to “be in charge”, “make the final calls”, and “be the boss.” Your employee just happens to be demanding, moody, loud, and still poops his pants. 🙂
Yeah, it’s totally not a step down…just a step a different direction. And I think anytime we have to veer courses, there’s a big period of adjustment. In fact, I’m not going to lie – there’s a piece of me scared of motherhood because I don’t want to lose “Writer Melissa” in the process. Which is why I really appreciated Lindsay’s comment above, Maggie’s whole post, your comment, Mel…reminds me I”m not alone in that. I’m sure it’s something we all have concerns about in bigger or smaller ways. But in the end, I’m not just Writer Melissa and you’re not just Mom Mel. We’re women following Christ onto whatever path He leads us…and when that’s our vision for our lives, each season and each sacrifice will have so much meaning. (Though, I still hold out hope that I can someday be a writer and a mom at the same time. hehehe)
p.s. I need to visit you and Maggs again…talk stories…play with your kids…last time was too short!