Larissa Cartwright
You would think writing an “about me” about yourself would be reasonably straightforward. I’m from Houston. Longhorn grad. Moved to Dallas and New York before returning to Austin. I work at a local TV station. I live in Great Hills. I’m married. And I have one adorable daughter, Aviana.
And that’s basically it. Except since a Friday in mid-July at around 7 p.m. – upon the arrival of my bloated, screaming offspring – I’ve become utterly clueless and mystified on who EXACTLY I really am. So writing this simple “about me” becomes infinitely more difficult.
Pre-baby I was a workaholic. I was a tv producer. I would go to work hours before my shift, yell at people, make some local news, then stay hours late. One time my supervisor sent me home because I was working so much I hadn’t showered, and I think I might have smelled. I worked overnight shifts and late night shifts and Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July. I met famous people on TV sets and covered big news events. It was hard, fun work and I was pretty good at it.
So when I got pregnant, I just knew it would be totally easy to keep this high stress, high profile job and just drop that little-unnamed puppy off at daycare for 15 hours a day – guilt free. Because I was a TV producer. Nothing would change that.
Cue your eye roll now.
Now my days remind me of the gum stuck between your shoe and the sidewalk. I’m stretched thin- and probably sorta sticky…?
For me becoming a working mom is the most confusing, overwhelming and magical transformation I could have ever imagined. There are pieces of old me still there. I still love to travel. (Aviana’s first BIG trip was England @ five months old) I still love amazing restaurants. (Check out my restaurant adventures with my daughter @HungryRumpusATX) But even though I’ve never been more tired – I’m so much more awake to what it is essential. And that makes my about me – a long work in progress.
Perfection!!
Yep!! That’s ‘Rissa alright! Thank you for the insight and wonderful writing! Your doin’ good, MaMa!!!!