A working mom's dream is to say 'Welcome home.' My note on work, parenting, and me📖

If someone asked me, "What is your dream?"
I might have given a somewhat cool-sounding answer in the past, like "I want to be a picture book author" or "I want to be a writer."

But now, the answer that feels most right is this:
"I want to live a life where I can say 'Welcome home' to my children."

If someone asked, "Is that really a dream?" I would be a bit stumped.
But to me, it is a big dream.

Currently, I am training to be an SNS marketer through a service called SHElikes.
Watching videos, creating slides, and learning the power of words.
It's not that I want to be a designer or a marketer, but I just find learning so much fun.

Every time I learn something new, it feels like my eyes are opening to the fact that "there is a world like this, too."
I realize that there were drawers within me that I didn't even know existed.

In fact, I've been thinking that it might be good to work as a web director in the future. I've started considering side jobs as a writer and job hunting, laying out my options for the future.

But, if I'm being truly honest—
I really think how happy I would be if I could make a living by "writing."

Writing down my thoughts on Note or a blog, and having them reach someone's heart.
If I could earn a small income from that, it might just be like treasure-filled days.

However, there is the reality that I cannot make a living on that alone.
Looking at the nursery school menu posted on the refrigerator,
wondering, "Is it okay to make the same menu for dinner tonight?"
I weave my days together through parenting and work.

Working four days a week,
watching SHE lectures on my iPad while folding laundry,
writing notes during the 15-minute gap while my child is napping,
and falling asleep in the middle of the night while worrying, "This sentence just doesn't feel right..."—it's a repetition of such days.

Even so, the time I spend writing on Note is precious "me time."
……Or so I thought, but as I'm writing, my two-year-old clings to my legs,
and I often find myself shouting, "Oh, wait, you confirmed the conversion in the wrong place!"

When they bring a pudding from the fridge and say, "Mommy, open it,"
I have to take my hands off the keyboard and pick up a spoon.

At this point, it might be more of a parenting diary than a Note, or perhaps even a live broadcast.

Still, my dream remains a life where I can say "Welcome home."
If that dream lies beyond my studies, my work, and the time I spend writing these notes,

I want to walk that path, even if it's slowly.

It doesn't matter if I don't earn a lot of money.
It doesn't matter if I don't have a cool title on my business card.
I just want to aim for that warm life where I can call out "Welcome home!" from the kitchen in the evening.

Today's words are also a small step toward tomorrow.
Gently and flexibly, while chasing my dream,
I open Note once again.

#WritingClub