i think i can, i think i can….

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We all know moms are it.  We are a force, and now moms are using their skills to great success.  Blogging is one way, but today we are talking scrapbooking.  Scrapbooking is a  billion dollar industry, and has brought new business opportunities for women.  From the modern day quilting circles that are scrappin’ parties comes Rebeca Seitz.  Rebeca is using her talents of scrapping and writing to create a series of books, Sisters Ink, centered around women who gather together not only for a love of scapbooking but for each other.  The second in the Sisters Ink series is Coming Unglued was released this month.
I asked Rebeca some questions not only about her new book Coming Unglued, but about  how to have a successful ‘momtourage.’ A ‘momtourage’ a group of moms who help each other out in good and bad times.

1.  I love the idea of a momtourage, how has this helped you as a mom?

It’s helped me stay sane – though there are those who would question my sanity level. Ha ha! Seriously, my girlfriends get me through the tough times of life. They remind me of my faith when I need something strong to hold onto and they laugh with me through the craziness. They’re also a fabulous sounding board when I have parenting questions. My son is three, so we’re now in the fun times of potty-training and boundaries testing. My girlfriends remind me that this, too, shall pass and that one day my sweet little child (the one whose favorite phrase these days is “I can do it myself, Mommy!”) will one day return.

2. Beyond scrapping what other ways can moms connect?

Oh, there are TONS of ways to connect! It’s really all about finding what you have in common. For some moms, that means bonding over a shared lack of “creative skills” (as in, no sewing, stamping, scrapping, painting, etc.) For some, it may be knitting or photography or jewelry-making. All you need is something other than mommyhood to bond you. That shared interest gives you a jumping off point to start conversation and have an “excuse” to get together.

3. I have been apart of some groups, life happens and as exciting as it is a first they can quickly die off, what ways can you keep your group strong?

I’ve definitely experienced this myself! Part of keeping your group going is recognizing that life circumstances change for everybody, all the time. Sometimes it won’t work out for the whole group to get together. If you find that happening a lot, then accept the circumstance and resolve to get whoever together, whenever. At Christmastime, plan a party where everyone commits to being there. I’m also a big fan of cards. I send them out to my girlfriends just to let them know I thought of them that day. Staying in touch – by whatever means works for you – is the important part.

Keep in mind, too, that frequency isn’t necessarily a good thing. We’re all running around like chickens with our heads cut off a lot of the time – grocery shopping, cleaning, raising kids, working, going to church, doing volunteer work, being a wife, being a daughter – the To Do list can totally take over. Spending time with girlfriends should always be a “get to” not a “have to”. One of the ways you can keep it a treat is by making it occur infrequently. For instance, I see my very best friend in the whole world three times a year. She lives 800 miles away from me. We email occasionally and talk on the phone occasionally, but for the most part we store up our stuff and truly enjoy those few weeks out of the year that we have together. We’ve been best friends now for eight years!

4. You are writing a series of fiction books based around scrap booking, are theses stories based off your experiences with you momtourage of scrap bookers?

My stories are based on my life experiences. It’s so funny when friends ask me if they’re in the book. My answer is always yes! The characters are a combination of people I’ve met along the way or girlfriends I currently have.

The relationship between the sisters in my books is definitely something pulled from my real life. Having a close group of girls to turn to is invaluable in my life and I wanted to share that gift with readers – I wanted them to see the power inherent in that kind of relationship. My hope is that they’ll find and nurture such relationships in their own lives as a result.

5. “Coming Unglued” is your new book the second in your series can you share what it is about?

Sure! Coming Unglued was the most emotional book-writing venture I’ve undertaken because the subject matter – infidelity – hits close to home. I had a previous marriage that broke up due to betrayal. When I walked through that dark time, I remember feeling very alone and wondering why in the world this was happening to me. I was working at a mega-church at the time and, thankfully, the staff was very supportive. Repeatedly, women would come up to me and tell me about their “starter marriage” that broke up due to adultery. I was floored! How did I not know about all these marriages crushed by betrayal? I asked someone that question and she told me women don’t talk about it because it ruins that “perfect life” image we work so hard to build. Well, I’ve never been one of those “perfect life” people. My life is messy, adventurous, broken, healed, and crazy all the way around.

There’s a huge freedom in simply being outwardly the person I am inwardly. It took me a while to learn that lesson, but when I learned it, I wanted to share it. So, I wrote Coming Unglued in the hope that it would “let” women talk about their broken times as well-that it would let us be real with each other.

6. What comes first the momtourage or the scrap booking- or is it like the chicken and egg debate?

Ha ha! It’s cyclical. My scrapbooking initially came as a result of supporting my sister’s Stampin’ Up! demonstrator status. I bought the products to support her. Then I met others who were scrapping and introduced my existing friends to scrapping. Eventually, a group of girls came out of that. The group changes – sometimes folks have had enough of one hobby and want to put it down for a while and other folks are just beginning to learn about it – so it’s a lot like the chicken and egg debate.

I have two copies of Coming Unglued to giveaway!   Do you have a ‘momtourage’?  Let me know in the comment section to win a copy of Coming Unglued! (contest ends Aug. 21  2008 at 10p).

Coming Unglued is a great read, sign up today and have it in time for your last trek to the beach!  Thank you so much Rebeca for your interview!  To see more of Rebeca and get a heads up on the rest of the Sisters Ink Series visit Rebeca’s web site.

(Image from Sisterink.net)
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