The too busy stage mom

Greetings,

"I am so selfish!" These are the words that I said to myself this morning. As a theatre professional, graduate student and mother of five creative artists, I have a very busy week coming up. “I can’t get all that I need to get done.” Then I paused. "I am so selfish!"

This past Saturday, my husband of 16 years buried his mother. All this past week he spoke of memories that he would cherish forever. She was a principal and highly devoted mother. So many of the speeches at the wake and service described her as a family oriented person who would give anything to her family. She cared so much about her family. “What will they say about me?” Do I need to sacrifice time, energy and sanity to do it all?

My kids are in violin, tutoring, fencing, dance, gymnastics, and piano. They have play dates and I home school them. I want my kids to have what I didn't.  I want them experience EVERYTHING and then have a choice of the direction that they want to go. I want to be a supermom so that my kids can have fond memories of me giving my all to them. 

A friend of mine called me to give her condolences and I told her that I was doing my homework. She laughed and said, "Girl you are always doing something. What are you doing now?" It made me think. I have my kids schedule and then there is mine. I am in grad school, writing a movie, two books, two plays and starting another theatre company. It is too much. If I don't settle down then my kids might not have those memories.

I am writing this blog for those entertainment moms that drive their kids everywhere for everything. I know how you feel about having well-rounded children but when do you decide that enough is enough? When do you look at your kids and decide that too much enrichment might be hurting them?

I took a moment to pray about week and just ask for strength. I can't do it all in one day. My homework will get done, my house will be clean, my kids will get to their classes and I will make it to my rehearsals and auditions, but it won’t all get done today. Today will be my day.

All things creative, 

Enrika M. Sissle 

You try, you fail

Whoever thought that watching a movie with your kids, that you would learn a life lesson? Last year, I was in the process of opening my first theatre company, the Sissle Heritage Center. It was designed to be a place for the creative people in Tallahassee, Florida living on the southside. I spent hours upon hours painting, moving, designing, building and much more. The same week that I was to open, I had a disagreement with my landlord about monies owed. He thought that I would just give in and pay more. He was asking for $500 more than what was agreed. Needless to say, I did not agree.

I was devastated. All this time, all this money, and I didn’t know what was I going to do. Then I sat down and watched a movie with my kids. The character, Madame Leota in Disney’sHaunted Mansion then said, “You try, you fail, you try you fail; the only real failure is when you stop trying.” I know that I have heard quotes like this in the past, but at this moment, it was a wake up call.

I started researching successful people and the companies that they started. Did they ever fail like I did? Did I really fail? What I learned was that with each “failed” attempt, the successful people never let it stop them. With many, the failure was the success.

My advice to anyone that wants to build something from the ground up is to not ever stop until you get it right. It might not work out the way you want it to the first time or even the second time but you are bound to get it right eventually.

As for me, I decided that I needed a little more training and knowledge before I went at it again. I am currently in graduate school to receive my masters degree in entertainment business from Full Sail University. This time, I am ready to try again.

All things creative,

Enrika M. Sissle