I am a stay at home mother of five children, and I watch two other children in my home as well.  Now before you think ‘wow, supermom’, let me explain.  Two of the aforementioned children are my stepchildren and don’t live with us 24/7.  My three who live with my husband and I range from 13 to 5, and 2.  I also have a very temperamental cat who typically cannot be petted, and will eat your very hand should you attempt this life threatening feat.  And no, he doesn’t attack the children.  He’s more of a guard cat…I swear he thinks he’s a dog! 

The two children I watch are 4 and 2.  I tend to have four children a day, and they are great kids. I know, you don’t believe me, and no - I don’t drink alcohol to get through the day.  I do, however, tread the floors of Walmart on a regular basis, and love to travel to the local flea market each Sunday.  The highlight of each trip has more to do with the fact that I get to spend time with my mother than it does with shopping.

I began my writing career as a young girl; in grade four I wrote a ten chapter story that my teacher enjoyed so much that she had the librarian laminate it and it was placed on the shelves in the library.  It was also put in another school library (where my cousin attended) and this gave me my first taste of publication.  I decided then and there (at the mature age of nine *cough*) that I would be a teacher from September to June, train horses from June to September, and write during evenings and weekends.  A love life you ask?  Hardly.  Boys were evil and stinky back then, remember?  Now?  Now I’m one of those three and proud of it.  I wouldn’t give up being home with my babies for anything.  And I did teach daycare for eight years and loved it.  The pay was horrible, but I loved the job and still miss it from time to time.  I miss the social aspect more than anything.

I’m prattling now.  You’ll see why I became a writer.  My husband tells me a conversation with me is like a 2000 word essay.  Yes, I love him.  He does have a good side.  Enjoy your trip into my world, and please visit regularly.  I plan to chat quite a bit. 

Lori