Every other Thursday I have the fun of exploring the concept of possession with one of the many amazing women I have had the pleasure to meet in my almost three years of blogging. I love sharing these very talented writers with you, and the Dishwasher enjoys learning about other demonic appliances.
This week I am so excited to bring you Emily, of the wonderful site,Fourtuitous.
Her plan was to do a take off of the old TeenBeat magazine celebrity interviews that was such a mainstay of so many of our teen years.
I had so much fun being interviewed by her for her post, Van Beat: Van or No Van, that I knew she would be perfect for this series and was so thrilled when she agreed to be my seventh victim.
Emily, I love the name of your site. How did you come up with it?
Fourtuitous was originally launched in June of 2012 with four writers, who were all in the midst of major life changes–some intentional, some not-so. My change was going from being a mom who loved her job as a teacher to being a full time stay-at-home-mom.
The site has changed since its inception since three of the original writers pursued new callings–how fortuitous!
Now, I write several days a week, and one of my favorite women in the whole world, Michelle, contributes one post a week. Fourtuitous is now the place where four worlds (family, career, home, culture) collide instead of four voices.
What is the post you are the proudest of?
I’m proud of Fourtuitous. It’s hard to choose one post, but I’d like to share a post that aims to validate all parents’ best efforts. It’s called, And the Parenting Award Goes To… We all deserve a high-five every now again, right? Or even a standing ovation? How about a chest bump?
I could not agree more!
Emily, as you may know I always let the crazed appliance ask a few questions. This week the Dishwasher would like to know if there is one appliance that you could not live without when you were teaching and has it changed since you have become a stay-at-home-mom?
Appliances were not on my radar when I was working outside the home unless the copy machine in the faculty room counts. That all changed as my family grew to five and the laundry started to multiply like something out of a horror movie.
When I was young and foolish, I didn’t appreciate how little laundry I had even though I fancied myself a fashion maven (self-titled) and prided myself on rarely repeating the same outfit in an entire school year (silliness). Now I wear the same outfit more times in a week than I care to admit, but still laundry piles haunt me. So the appliance I can’t live without is my washing machine. It’s a love-hate relationship.
I have to know, have you ever had a possessed appliance?
Oh, yes. Yes, I have. I overlooked the first time our washing machine projectiled sudsy water. I extracted thong and baby socks from its inner workings the next time. User error for sure.
When we moved into our first home and I considered teaching swimming lessons from our laundry room because our washing machine flooded so often, I started to get annoyed. When we replaced four parts in one servicing, I started to hate it. When it sounded like an airplane taking off during nap time, I almost committed hari-kari.
Excellent! How long has been it possessed? Did you buy it, or did it come with your house?
When I had my son seven years ago, we lived in an apartment with washers and dryers in the basement. I learned fast about diaper blowouts. Although I longed for my pre-baby body, I didn’t want it enough to climb several flights of stairs, several times a day with heaps of yellow-stained onesies and soiled bedding. No thanks.
Having just had my first child, my husband was still willing to do whatever it took to make me happy since he witnessed what my nether region had been through birthing the son that would continue his family name. I used that to my advantage and got a fancy top-of-the-line front loader. The day it arrived, I sat on the floor and watched my boy’s clothes spin around and around. It was domestic bliss. That didn’t last long.
It’s possession has changed me. I’m angrier now. And far less trusting.
Possessed appliances will do that to you! Now, I would like to know, what is the biggest mistake you have ever made that now, when you look back on, you are very grateful for?
This is a tough question! I think one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made and continue to make is that I’m very impulsive. I don’t always think things through because I become inspired or hormonal or out of my mind.
Usually I direct my impulses toward DIY projects. I decide at 8:00 pm I need to paint a room or pull up a carpet or make a bid at a silent auction for furniture I’m not sure can even fit in our cozy (read: tight) Cape Cod. In the end, it usually works out…usually.
While this trait can be exhausting for me and everyone in my path, it’s also a source of creativity for me. So I’m grateful for it… most of the time.
What does being possessed mean to you?
When I think of being possessed, I immediately think of The Exorcist, and if I think about that for too long, I’ll never sleep again.
How about inspired or even obsessed?
You make a great point, but you know I have to tread lightly since I do live with a possessed (not inspired or obsessed!) dishwasher.
Emily what possesses you right now? Is it what you thought would possess you 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was newly married. I had my dream job teaching Language Arts at a residential school for children in need. I was driven by my belief in education as a tool to empower and inspire. I loved my students. I loved my colleagues. I still do.
Now I’m driven by my desire to empower and inspire my little ones.
Ten years ago, I hoped I’d have children. I dreamed about them, but I imagined myself a career woman, too. And then something changed when those little rotters came along. They possessed me, I think.
