I'm in a similar boat and very grateful to have a spouse who is super supportive of my writing. I work (self employed as a web designer and SEO consultant), but I work around 25-30 hours a week while trying to finish my novel, which is hard enough even working part-time!
Don't feel guilty. Be thankful, which it appears you are, that you've a loving spouse who wants the best for you and your children. And, I'm certain, he's feels that you support him as well.
I'm fully retired, married 53 years to my high school sweetheart, and we have two wonderful daughters and grandsons. Throughout my Army career and later public service jobs, my wife was the mainstay of the family in raising our two daughters while I was deployed. And when people say "thank you for your service," I rarely hear them say it to my wife and daughters. Being a military family they sacrificed as much, if not more, than I did.
My wife is a watercolor artist and when the girls were young, she painted as that gave her joy. When were older and she could work outside the home, she took parttime jobs because the most important thing was to be home when the girls came home from school. Unlike today, our children participated in afterschool programs which seem, sadly and shamefully for our education system, seem to be on the wane.
I write this not to tout how great marriage is, but rather to remind myself, that when two people marry, the union focuses on each other's strengths. Thankfully, my wife could paint, as I can't draw a straight line with a ruler. Our walls are decorated with her works and remind of places we've been. More importantly, I atrribute the success of our two daughters to her. They're successfull, artistic, and don't mind putting Dad in his place when necessary! And as for my career, she served as well with hosting functions, reception lines, and providing a sensitive ear to spouses when the unit deployed or even in garrison. And that continued in my local government jobs.
Bottom line, don't feel guilty. Use your talents to make the family unit successful and use your writing to educate, entertain, and enthuse others to try their hand at it.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! And it’s true that I do contribute just as much to our family as my husband does, it’s just that my contributions (childcare, cleaning, cooking, shopping, doctor appointments, etc.) aren’t financial ones. Certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t equally important! Anyway, thank you for your thoughts!!
Yes. Me too. All this, from our marriage at age 33 onward through more years than yours. Always and forever grateful.
We have a similar dynamic in our home and I relate to a lot of what you write here.
So true. I'm able to write because I have financial support.
What a fantastic service. It's an education. Thank you!
I'm in a similar boat and very grateful to have a spouse who is super supportive of my writing. I work (self employed as a web designer and SEO consultant), but I work around 25-30 hours a week while trying to finish my novel, which is hard enough even working part-time!
Eva,
Don't feel guilty. Be thankful, which it appears you are, that you've a loving spouse who wants the best for you and your children. And, I'm certain, he's feels that you support him as well.
I'm fully retired, married 53 years to my high school sweetheart, and we have two wonderful daughters and grandsons. Throughout my Army career and later public service jobs, my wife was the mainstay of the family in raising our two daughters while I was deployed. And when people say "thank you for your service," I rarely hear them say it to my wife and daughters. Being a military family they sacrificed as much, if not more, than I did.
My wife is a watercolor artist and when the girls were young, she painted as that gave her joy. When were older and she could work outside the home, she took parttime jobs because the most important thing was to be home when the girls came home from school. Unlike today, our children participated in afterschool programs which seem, sadly and shamefully for our education system, seem to be on the wane.
I write this not to tout how great marriage is, but rather to remind myself, that when two people marry, the union focuses on each other's strengths. Thankfully, my wife could paint, as I can't draw a straight line with a ruler. Our walls are decorated with her works and remind of places we've been. More importantly, I atrribute the success of our two daughters to her. They're successfull, artistic, and don't mind putting Dad in his place when necessary! And as for my career, she served as well with hosting functions, reception lines, and providing a sensitive ear to spouses when the unit deployed or even in garrison. And that continued in my local government jobs.
Bottom line, don't feel guilty. Use your talents to make the family unit successful and use your writing to educate, entertain, and enthuse others to try their hand at it.
Warmest regards.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! And it’s true that I do contribute just as much to our family as my husband does, it’s just that my contributions (childcare, cleaning, cooking, shopping, doctor appointments, etc.) aren’t financial ones. Certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t equally important! Anyway, thank you for your thoughts!!
Congratulations on 10 Eva. Happy anniversary! 🙏🤗❤️😍👏
Thank you!
This newsletter is very helpful and inspires me to finish my novel so I can use all of the great resources mentioned!
Aw thanks!