The world has some strong, empowering females that deserve a spotlight. This will be an on-going series of interviews with women that inspire, empower, and encourage me.
Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing a dear friend of mine, mommy blogger extraordinaire SixPackMommy. She is not only a friend, but someone I deeply admire and who inspires me to be a better version of myself.
She often gets asked if her SixPack is a pack of beer or just really good abs. The answer is: She has 6 children. Let's begin!
How did you get into writing?
I always loved writing; as a little kid, I was the geek that carried a notepad around and spontaneously
wrote crappy kid fiction. English was always my favorite class in school- I was lucky to have fun, quirky
and inspiring English teachers in school. I always kept journals, too. Still do!
What was your first published piece?
I had posted several pieces on small sites, but I'd say the first post to gain any traction was "5 Reasons
I'm Not Picking Up The Phone When You Call". It was featured on the blog at The Huffington Post.
What's your favorite published piece?
It was featured on The Huffington Post. It's a central theme for me: reminding parents (like myself!) not to get hung up in the mom shaming and martyr mentality in parenting.
I know you have six kids, how the heck do you do it?
Coffee. Lots of coffee. I wouldn't have any personality or energy without the java.
As far as the home, I try to stay organized and to get things done as efficiently as possible.
Writing has also been a great way to preserve my own "sense of self". And keeping a blog to poke fun at
the insanity in my home has been a great way to laugh off things that would otherwise be VERY
stressful.
What would be your advice for young people wanting to get into the writing business?
For myself, starting a blog was the best way to build confidence in sharing my writing publicly. I loved,
and still love, having an online place of my "own" to share with the world. As far as getting published,
don't be afraid to contact big online websites and news sites to pitch your writing to. Ignorance was bliss
for me in getting my first piece published in The Huffington Post; I didn't know it was a challenge for others to be accepted. I just emailed them a piece that I thought was funny. The most important thing to
remember is to not let any rejection discourage you. I've had pieces rejected by a site, only to have it get
huge responses when it was accepted by another site. Never let a rejection determine your worth as a
writer.
What would be your advice for those who are just starting their families?
Pay off your student loan(s) first!! I jest, but the only thing I wish we'd done differently is been more
financially-savvy in the earlier, pre-kid years. And take a vacation with your spouse or significant other-
once you have kids, it might be awhile before you get that chance again.
What's your favorite word in the English language?
Just one?? I like any word with a strong "k" sound. But if you're referring to my most commonly used
word, it's probably "appropriate". As in, "it's not appropriate to stick your fingers in the butter at the
table." "It's not appropriate to wag your butt at your teacher." (You know. Kids.)
You can find SixPackMommy on Twitter @6PackMommy