Rhian's entry into Amy's reinvention journey

I am married to an amazing man, have two incredible sons, my father and brother are my role models. I was the first girl born into my family for what  (apparently) seemed like generations. After high school, I chose to pursue a degree in math & science and from there fell in love with the idea of teaching high school math: a heavily male-dominated subject area if ever there was one. I have, for most of my life and career, been outnumbered by the male of the species in most situations. As wonderful as all of the males in my life are or have been, as my own sons get older and require less from me, I find myself rediscovering the girly-side of me. Always there, just well hidden behind being "one-of-the-boys". I love Amy's theme of reinvention, as I feel am in a state of reinvention in my life right now. Working with a new team of fabulous women (and a couple of lovely chaps, too!), meeting new friends, having the types of new experiences that moving to a new city and job affords you, I am enjoying rediscovering my girlie side again; simple pleasures and joys not forgotten, just shelved for a while. Looking at my contribution to Amy's book I am reminded that I really need to find some art supplies….black pen and coloured pencils were all that were at hand J

Leaning In

The theme of my sketchbook is "reinvention", and in the case of my first sketch, I'm thinking on the reinvention of myself. 

I've had the fortune this year to step away from full-time work, and into a more hands-on role as a mum.  My year of less work has coincided with big things happening on the paid work-front - big things that make me invigorated and ready to step back in the classroom.  But those same big things, and the process of how we are getting there, have left me feeling, at times, grouchy and critical.

Recently I have developed an obsession with reading all things about women in positions of leadership, and if it's by a woman who is also a mum, all the better.   When a friend passed me this article earlier this week, and the author again referenced the tiara syndrome, all the pieces came together: I have no right to be grouchy or critical if I haven't tried to do anything about it. 

So, my sketch.  We're loving our old school Mr Men and Little Miss books these days.   The children's book, a reinvented cover for Little Miss Princess, is drawn with Crayola markers and crayons. It represents the mommy side of me (and reminds me to BUY GROWN-UP ART SUPPLIES SOON), and a lot of the fun I’ve had this year being at home with my little ones.  On the other side, we have Little Miss Princess, here reimagined as a brunette, who has tossed off her tiara.  She’s going back to work, and she’s going to attempt to throw her natural cynicism and grouchiness aside, along with that crown.  There’s no sitting back for this little miss, and she definitely won’t be second-guessing herself or her abilities. She’s reinventing herself.

Oh, by the way, she definitely WON’T figure out how to balance the work/family thing. If anyone does figure that out, there are millions to be made.

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