WordPress was recently kind enough to send me a “Your Year in Blogging” FurtherMo Annual Report. It was a sweet gesture, a celebration of my most popular blogs, of my top responders, and information about where in the world FurtherMo’s readers are from. This was fascinating.
But as I opened my WordPress dashboard, I couldn’t help but reflecting on all the posts that (their moments fleeting) were never to see the light of day. 2012, the year I got pregnant (February), started an MFA in Creative Nonfiction (June) adopted a German Shepard (August), and gave birth to a tiny baby boy (October) was a year inspired by the passionate embrace of creativity and written retrospection. And although it wasn’t great for blogging, it was great for drafting.
And just in case you were wondering about those interrupted beginnings and castaway drafts, here were some of 2012’s unpublished ideas.
Pregnant and Adopting: life as i knew it
(Abandoned June 3rd, 2012)
I prance around my kitchen, dancing to my loud, wild drum beats. The six year old is at the neighbor’s and the husband’s out for a drink. I inhale deeply, breathing it in. Life.
Life today. School buses and waving good-bye. Kissing my husband on his way out the door. My peace, my quiet. And i turn to my work. Lesson plans. Writing. Short stories, poems. words, words, words. long winding words that take me nowhere and everywhere. A clean house. Mail that gets sorted and dishwashers that get emptied. Rhythm. Clarity. Focus.
A FurtherMo Quick Finish
In January, we opened a file with the province of PEI to adopt a sibling group. As we awaited news, I became pregnant. This post was drafted during the ridiculous time when I envisioned life with Leila, Baby, and possibly two more children. This post is about the edge of change, when life’s hues change from orange to red. Usually when this happens, we realize finally that hey – we really liked orange. Welcome to the human condition: just when you have the chance to catch your breath, the merry-go-round picks up speed.
Our file is currently on hold with the province until Baby Ari is one year old. We will reapply when Baby Ari is one year old.
Mom Reviewed: iphone Apps for Kids
(Abandoned July 7th, 2012)
There you are, on a car trip, at the restaurant, or in the doctors office, and the little one goes for your purse. At first you hesitate – not here, not now – but then your inner teenager takes over and you surrender: fine, take my phone. And those little hands dig through your stuff, your private lady purse stuff that you thought you might never share with any one.
kids and technology. What’s good, what’s bad? Here’s an aged 5-7 Mo-reviewed list of apps that we’ve had a lot of success with.
A FurtherMo Quick Finish.
This summer, Leila got into the Glow Puzzles in a big way, a game of logic that she can figure out at lightning speed. She also likes Math Bingo, which asks her to add and subtract until she earns stickers. Mitch and I really like the Montessori Apps too, which TheHomeTeacher blog outlines quite well. This month’s loves: HangMan, Booksy, and who are we kidding – Monster High Sweet 1600.
when multi-tasking goes too far
(abandoned October 20th, 2012)
I’m sitting in the hockey rink watching Leila learn to skate backwards – and she’s good.
My book review is due tomorrow, and I’m having a hard time getting into this one. I brought the iPad to the rink in hopes I can breeze through a few chapters unnoticed. But it’s no use. It’s cold, I’m distracted, and my thoughts are racing.
I sip the coffee I poured an hour ago and wonder when the last time I had a full cup was. These days I’m scattered. I wonder how I can try to do so many things at once, and how that must seriously compromise the productivity of each of the things I’m doing – watching Leila skate, reading a book of essays, and breathing into my thirty-ninth week of pregnancy. Every thought I have is interrupted by, “I should wash those sleepers,” or “I should get some diapers,” and then the final voice of reason comes. “I should meet my submissions deadline for my MASTERS”.
She’s a great backwards skater.
Mo Duffy Cobb 
I love your way with words. You ALWAYS make me stop and pause and I come out the other side feeling refreshed! Miss you, friend.
Thanks for being a loyal reader, Rebecca. Miss you too.
Just beautiful Mo…xo
Mo – you have such a gift. I can so relate to your multi-tasking post – bet many Moms would! But just reading your blog makes me feel calmer and okay with the sticky jam on my countertop so thank-you my friend.
Oh how I love you MoDuffyCobb!
Always a joy to read your blogs Mo…..luv u guys. xoxo
Really enjoyed TFMo Quick finishes! Thank you for sharing. Nice Photo stream too!! XOXO
Love it all Moe!!! Gearing down is the way to go! can’t wait to see you xox