Back in the saddle

I've been a bad girl and have been gone for a long time! That's not to say that I haven't been busy. Busy raising three under-school-aged children and running a small business that kept getting bigger and more time consuming. But, I have recently made the decision to stop accepting new clients and to refocus my time and energy back into the art and illustrations that are my true love.

My small graphic and web design business was getting pretty busy with many great referrals from my clients. But it seemed to be growing in a direction that I hadn't intended and my time was starting to be monopolized by meetings, phone calls, answering emails, and not actually creating something. All the while pulling me away from spending time with my kids. There were too many beautiful afternoons when I had to tell them I had to work to make a deadline and there would be no trip to the park or playtime with Mommy.

I never intended for my business to grow into an ad agency and it seemed that it was moving that way. And despite hiring other designers to help out, I realized that I wanted to create things that were my own more than I wanted to run an ad agency in my limited time. So, now I am only going to try to take on specific commission and projects.

To cement this, I actually pulled out my sketch book out from the bottom of one of my many piles of papers and books on my desk and started working on a sketch for a client's email promo. My children gathered around and my oldest, the Monkey, exclaimed: "Mommy! I didn't know you could draw!" How's that for evidence? The hard truth to support my suspicions! I had been so busy "creating" artwork for other people on a computer (very abstract for a child) that my own child of 5 years old didn't even know that I could draw! For the last three years, I would keep him and my other children busy while I worked by giving them drawing tools and paper and even making small books for them. The Monkey would carefully illustrate a book every day. Sometimes several each day. But apparently, my children never saw me draw! Or at least in a way that they could understand!

I created their preschool brochure, illustrated countless birthday party invitations, created Temple of Doom signs, drew pupils and irises on dozens of ping pong balls. But my own kids didn't realize that I could draw! So, here's what I drew and worked on today just to show you that I can draw! Don't listen to my kids!

I have so much to tell about the kids. It's been over a year since I've posted and there are so many things that I've missed documenting! The Monkey learned how to swim today! He's been taking his classes, but today was the first time he actually swam by himself without help! He did both a back float with kicking and a front crawl! My amazing 5 year old!

The Puppy has started wiping his own butt! I know. Strange to document, but it came on suddenly and at first I thought he was constipated and not going. But then I noticed that there was poo and lots of toilet paper in unflushed toilets. Evidence! And then he proudly told me that he goes and wipes himself! He's going through a tough period. I guess being 4 1/2 is frustrating.

Miss Piggy is a pistol. Two days ago, she asked me: "Mommy? Do you love me? Am I your friend? Can I have a hug and a kiss?" At 2 1/2, she is articulate and opinionated and still impossibly sweet.

So, this is me re-dedicating myself to my kids and myself. And documenting life along the way.

Client Meetings & Puddles

I used to occasionally host client meetings at my home office. These meetings weren't the optimal situations for conducting business, but were often my only option for short notice meetings or meetings for certain times of the day. Usually, the meetings are interrupted affairs, but we are able to accomplish our major objectives. This is a story of one of those meetings.

A couple of months ago, I hosted one of the meetings at my dining room table. I had carefully cleaned up the house, put the baby down for a nap, and popped a movie into the DVD player to entertain the Monkey and the Puppy.

The clients arrived and I ushered them into the dining room and we started our meeting discussing their marketing objectives and projects. We were interrupted intermittently by the Monkey asking about things and the Puppy bouncing about. About fifteen minutes into the meeting, suddenly the Puppy appears at my elbow.

My penis doesn't fit into my pants.

Excuse me?

MY PENIS DOESN'T FIT INTO MY PANTS!!!!

I glance at the Puppy to realize that he has pulled his diaper and pants down to his knees and has exposed his privates to me and my clients whose faces are now frozen in shocked suprise (i.e. eyebrows raised very high). He is sporting a tiny erection that apparently no longer fits into his pants.

Please put your penis back into your pants. (I now wish we have taught them alternative names I could use in font of other people.)

WHAT???

Please put your penis back into your pants!

The Puppy dutifully pulls his pants back up and disappears into the living room. I turn my attention back to the meeting; my clients luckily laugh at the incident and are not phased by my toddler's deviant behavior.

Ten minutes go by and the Puppy reappears at my elbow. I glance at him from the corner of my eye.

Mommy. I peed on the floor.

What? Why did you pee on the floor???

I look at him now and understand why he peed on the floor. His little penis is poking out the top of this diaper - caught in that position when he pulled his diaper and pants back up. He points to a puddle on the living room floor and I suddenly have an image flash across my mind of my Puppy and a little fountain spurting from his body onto the floor.

Err. Excuse me. I say to my clients. I will be right back as I go clean up the puddle.

Did I ever mention that you should NEVER try to have professional client meetings with a toddler present?