As the school year begins to wind down to a close, it seems we move at a more frenzied pace. Can anyone attest to this phenomenon, or is it just me? This week alone, we have:
two school concerts, two dentists appointments, two birthday parties, a preschool Mother’s Day Tea Party, Girl Scouts, and rebuilding of the school playground
All of this on top of our normal, day-to-day activities that are similar to any other child-oriented family’s. In other words, LOTS of homework, LOTS of messes to clean up, and LOTS of sibling bickering to squelch.
I know there are some of you who look at my schedule and think it sounds pretty relaxing compared to your own, but we are typically a low-maintenance family. We’re homebodies and enjoy putzing about the yard, gardens, and adjacent creek. We don’t like a lot of extracurricular activities, and we certainly don’t like being on the go, go, GO!
So why, then, am I still lounging around in my bathrobe sipping coffee when there is important business to attend to?
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My writing blog is feeling rather neglected. I’ve been lacking in any pearls of wisdom regarding print publishing, and me thinks I may have been too hasty in setting up a separate blog to chronicle my adventure. Go figure. I’m sure you’ve heard that one before. Anywho, I may have to address the fate of the other blog at some point in the near future.
I did manage to get published in two print publications, both locally and nationally. The local publication just hit the stands (I haven’t even seen it yet). I will provide a link when it’s been posted online. The national publication has yet to be printed. Unfortunately, no one but I will know I wrote the 35-word piece. It’s a product ad! (Between you and me, it was fun and challenging, and I wouldn’t mind writing more ads.)
Root & Sprout has been consuming all of the time that I would otherwise devote to print work (I’m contributing at least 10 articles to the next installment). But you know what? I am OKAY with that, because I have every confidence that Root & Sprout will grow into something spectacular. Who knows? Perhaps there will even be a print version of Root & Sprout one of these days!
FYI - Any articles that you submit for Root and Sprout between now and May 15th will go up on the site ASAP. All articles submitted after May 15th will be published in the next installment, which will go live on or around June 1st. Articles are generally published on a bi-weekly basis.
Here are the Special Announcements from the Root & Sprout home page:
- May 15th: submission deadline for articles to appear in the June 1st installment
- *Call for Special Content* Father’s Day is almost here! How will you celebrate Dad? Please submit special Father’s Day stories, crafts, and recipes. Have your child write a letter to Dad, and we will post it here (on Root & Sprout) so the world will know what a special guy he is!
- June 1st: submission deadline for articles to appear in the June 15th installment
- June 15th: submission deadline for articles to appear in the June 29th installment (we’re going on vacation June 30th)
- *Call for Special Content* How does your family celebrate the 4th of July? Do you participate in annual traditions? Do you have a favorite kids’ craft or recipe to share? Do you have tips for throwing a party on a budget?
Also, did you know that Root & Sprout has a forum? Check it out!

7 comments
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May 5, 2008 at 9:06 am
kristi
We’re not at the “frenzied end of school” stage yet here, but our calendar for May is already filling up, and we have no weekends free between now and the end of the month!
May 5, 2008 at 12:25 pm
April
I feel you! This past weekend was all about family obligations, and I feel like I didn’t even have a weekend. I can’t believe I’m back at work, and the girls felt the same way about going to school!
May 5, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Gnorb
As for the writing blog, I’d recommend consolidating into one blog, to chronicle both your adventures and the pearls of wisdom. There’s no wiser pearl than that which comes from experience.
Don’t know if I’ve mentioned this to you before, but check out Mur Lafferty’s “I Should Be Writing” podcast (just look it up on a search engine: I don’t have the link in front of me). I think you might find it interesting, though your genres differ. A lot.
May 5, 2008 at 3:48 pm
PreSchool Mama
I know how you feel, although my hectic life the past week had to do with work, not kids.
May 15th - I have it imprinted in my mind, no worries! I’ll get in touch in the next c0uple of days to finalize a topic.
May 5, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Stephanie
Congrats on your two recent publications! That’s awesome! Good for you!
May 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Debbie Yost
I know just how you feel! I was just complaining to my neighbor about this. I spent 2 1/2 hours calendering and going through paperwork today for the end of the year stuff. My calendar has never looked so full! We’re like you and I’m not happy about all this extra running around!
May 6, 2008 at 6:50 am
Debi
We haven’t reached that end of school year frenzy here yet. That generally doesn’t start until late May, early June here. Thank heavens! All three kids had their dental check-ups yesterday though. Annie has an archery class tomorrow, but beyond that we’ve got an easy week. Just the way we like it…we’re definitely home-bodies, too. (Well, except for our little social butterfly Annie…we’re not sure were she got her “outgoing” genes from.)