I've been writing this column for seven years now. And I will tell you it's been the best experience of my writing career. All those years ago, I had this zany idea I knew was a long shot. But I went for it anyway. I called up Hal Brown (he had no idea who I was) out of the blue and told him I wanted to write for his magazine. He studied me long and hard and read some things I'd written and promised to give it some thought. After just 24 hours, he sent me an email. It said five words: You've got yourself a job.
And so my (not so) How-To parenting column was born.
When I started out, I had loads of topics to cover. There was the time my then 10-year-old daughter wanted to discuss sex in the middle of a crowded Barnes and Noble. I've recalled tales of dentist appointments gone terribly wrong and about the time I spent hours running errands with only makeup on half my face.
I told about how my kids gave me head lice and confessed that I sometimes eat out of my trash can. My kids STILL throw away perfectly decent food, by the way.
I'm notorious for revealing too much of what goes on at the gynecologist's office, and my well woman checkups have been featured in more than a few of my stories. Who doesn't enjoy a good Pap smear anecdote, am I right?
It's just that sometimes life can be taken too seriously, in my opinion, so making fun of its failures, foibles and follies makes it seem less…what's the word…serious.
There's always room for humor.
For the most part, my kids have grown up having a mother who shares more of them than had she chosen some other career. But for me, writing exaggerated stories about navigating the treacherous waters of motherhood has taught me how to be a better mom. It may sound strange, but it's true. And my kids don't mind it so much.
Being able to share my life and my family's life with you has been a real honor and something I won't soon forget.
I'm not leaving Fort Worth. And I'm not taking some new job making more money. I haven't had a real job in 10 years. I just feel like I've run out of things to say, and my mom always said, "Don't stay longer than necessary; you'll wear out your welcome." It's time I go home. There are piles of laundry to do, dinners to prepare and dishes to clean. Those things don't just do themselves, you know.
Fort Worth, Texas magazine has been a delightful host, the absolute best. It will be sad to flip through the magazine and not see next month's article. I've been doing it so long it's become a part of me.
In a way I feel it improper to say goodbye. I'm still here, just not here.
But if you eat at Mi Cocina or shop at Target or buy your shoes at Stanley Eisenman Fine Shoes or attend TCU football games, we'll probably run into each other.
Thank you, Hal, and the entire Fort Worth area for all your love and support over the years. I am truly grateful.
See you around town!
