From Kate’s Writing Crate…
Cheryl L. Butler Publishes Her Second Book
By Kate Phillips
After
Cheryl L. Butler’s years of writing as a columnist and then publishing her
first book, Pregnant Women Don’t Eat
Cabbage, she was offered the position of writing the Macmillan Publishing’s
Mighty Mommy column and hosting the franchise podcast which is available on Amazon
Echo, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Google Home, PodChaser,
PodBean, and TuneIn. Podcast airs every Monday. Visit www.quickanddirtytips.com/mighty-mommy.
She
co-founded this blog, has written for national publications as well as penning
her second book Mom Ops: Observations,
Laughs, and Solutions for a Happier Family Life that will be published in
early spring.
Here she
tells us all about her life and future plans:
KP: How long have you been a writer?
CB: I’ve been writing and keeping journals since I
learned to write! It all started with my innocent lists of what I wanted to
accomplish at the ripe old age of seven. (Barbie and Ken kept me quite busy!)
Once I was in high school, I became consumed with journaling and writing short
stories and never looked back.
My career path led me to
working in a very progressive dental practice for nearly 20 years so my writing
was placed on the backburner. It wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home mom with
my eight children that I pursued my love of writing. After the birth of my
seventh child, I had an essay published in a newspaper—a humorous reflection of
what it was like to be raising a large family.
I received countless
positive comments about that piece, decided it was time once again to fuel my
passion for writing, and applied for a job with two local magazines. That was
over 15 years ago, and I’ve been writing professionally ever since.
KP: What is your favorite part of writing a column about
family Life?
CB: When I began writing, I wrote articles of interest
pertaining to the many wonderful facets of community life. I’ve always loved
writing these types of pieces because it gave me the opportunity to meet and
interview so many interesting folks that make such a positive difference.
Soon after, I was asked if
I’d like to begin writing a monthly family column about the many facets of
parenting and family life. Excited, I agreed without hesitation because to me
this was like hitting the writer’s jackpot. Not only would I have another
chance to write, I would now be able to ponder my favorite subject—my family in
a never-ending variety of ways. Without their knowing it, they became fodder
for column after column (I say this lovingly, of course!) and the best part was
I now had a permanent way to capture all these moments in a published format.
Sharing a monthly column
about the people most dear to me in the world—my kids—is a very personal thing.
I’ve written about my favorite moments, funniest and most embarrassing accounts
(yes, I’ve forgot my own daughter at her First Communion as we proceeded to her
celebratory brunch in Newport without her! Sigh.), heartbreaking times, and
I’ve even shared a rant or two that I felt was worthy of a read. But my
absolute favorite columns have been about the mundane and ordinary happenings
that are part of any parent’s journey (meal prep, laundry, bored kids,
carpools, homework battles, and more laundry—because those are the moments that
families can relate to the most—the parenting moments that define us and quite
truthfully that I will treasure for many years after my nest is empty.
KP: What else do you write?
CB: I’ve been a freelance writer for a handful of other
magazines over the past 15 years including publications such as Family Fun, Good Housekeeping, and Real Simple.
I’ve also been published in
several Chicken Soup for the Soul books as well as other parenting anthology
series. In 2009 my first book was published, Pregnant Women Don’t Eat Cabbage—a whimsical look at pregnancy and
childbirth. While it wasn’t a NYT
bestseller, it was a fantastic first-time experience which ultimately opened
several new doors for me.
At one of my book signings,
it just so happened a producer from Macmillan Publishing in NYC was in
attendance—a total fluke. We met briefly and exchanged pleasantries. At the
time, I didn’t realize she worked in publishing.
A couple of years later, she
contacted me about a job opening. MacMillan has a website and podcast network
known as Quick and Dirty Tips (QDT) with
experts in a handful of fields—finances, nutrition and exercise, science,
psychology, organization and productivity to name a few.
QDT was originally founded
by Mignon Fogarty, the popular NYT bestselling
author and host known as Grammar Girl. One of their first hosts on the QDT
network was a parenting expert known as Mighty Mommy. They were looking for
someone to replace the original Mighty Mommy and the Macmillan contact that
came to my book signing thought of me.
Six years later, I’ve been
enjoying my position as QDT’s Mighty Mommy where I write a weekly column and
record a podcast that is related to all things family/parenting. I’m surrounded
by top-notch professionals in the industry and still have to pinch myself to
believe I am living my dream—writing for a living!
KP: Please tell us more about being Mighty Mommy?
CB: As the host of the Mighty Mommy podcast, I choose
topics ranging from pregnancy and newborns to toilet training and tantrums
right through to teen drama and sending your kids off to college. As any parent
knows, the topics for raising a family are endless and plentiful so I never
worry about running out of fresh ideas.
At present, the Mighty Mommy
archive has over 500 podcasts, 300 of which are mine. As part of my role I am
introduced to many NYT bestselling authors who I’m privileged to interview as
guests on my show. Most recently popular author and organizing guru, Julie
Morgenstern, was my guest, and we discussed strategies for keeping it real when
it comes to running a smooth household. She was fantastic!
All of the QDT podcasts,
including Mighty Mommy, can be found as written content on our website for easy
reference.
I work remotely but do
travel to NYC to stay connected to our QDT team. (Navigating Penn Station,
alone, is something I’m quite proud of!) I’m also in contact with hundreds of
sponsors who help to promote our shows. I’m so lucky to be able to sample and
try a wide variety of family-related products that I can recommend to
listeners.
The Mighty Mommy podcast
airs every Monday. Visit www.quickanddirtytips.com/mighty-mommy to listen and visit the Mighty Mommy archive.
All QDT shows are available
on the following podcast platforms: Amazon Echo, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher,
Google Podcasts, Google Home, PodChaser, PodBean, and TuneIn.
KP: What is your favorite part about being Mighty Mommy?
CB: My favorite part of being the Mighty Mommy host is
that I’m exposed to a whole new world of sharing parenting information. Working
for one of the world’s largest publishers offers many exciting avenues that I
otherwise wouldn’t have had. I have a myriad of professional editors and
producers, family experts, and advertisers at my disposal who help me deliver
the best content possible.
I also get to interact with
my listeners on a weekly basis as they write in with questions and comments.
Communicating and being able to share tips with other parents is definitely
another reason I love being the Mighty Mommy.
KP: You are also an author with a second book to be
published soon. Please tell us all about it.
CB: As I mentioned earlier, my first book, Pregnant Women Don’t Eat Cabbage was
published 10 years ago. I had all intentions of diving in to write more books,
but life and raising eight kids pushed those plans to the back burner.
I now have several projects
happening at once, and one of those is my second book which will be published
in early spring. Mom Ops: Observations,
Laughs, and Solutions for a Happier Family Life will be a collection of my
favorite parenting essays along with new material, indexed by subject matter
for quick reference. So if you’re having a bad parenting day and just trying to
survive, you can quickly turn to the appropriate section for a solution and a
bit of comic relief. You can look at it as a humorous guide book to help you
through nearly any part of your parenting journey.
KP: What inspires you to write all these columns,
podcasts, and books?
CB: My inspiration is quite simply my family. For those
who may not know, I struggled with infertility for five years before we adopted
our beautiful first daughter at birth. One of my favorite phrases is ‘Be careful
what you ask for’ because one year to the day that we adopted our sweet
daughter, I delivered our first son, and then went on to have six more babies!
I was pregnant for a decade,
and the fact that I survived the summer I had four kids under the age of three
was a small miracle. When you enjoy a stick of gum for breakfast and learn to
sleep in the bathroom shower for 15 minutes just to catch a few winks you
realize you have two choices: Laugh or cry. Crying takes way too much effort so
I chose to go with the flow and did so with my pen and journal close by my side
so I wouldn’t forget a thing (especially my own name).
I’ve experienced
infertility, adoption, childbirth, raising kids with developmental delays,
popular and athletic kids, introverted and nerdy kids, college and non-college
bound kids, a stay-at-home mom and an outside the home career mom, divorce,
dating at age 50, and recently became a new grandmother.
I’ve always been a people
person so I don’t mind putting myself out there and sharing and inspiring my
life experiences, especially if it might help just one other parent.
KP: Are the solutions and tips you give all tried and
true for your family?
CB: Absolutely, yes! The book is jam packed with
everything that worked (and was a disaster) for the many facets of child
rearing. Some of the contents are quite commonsense approaches to keeping your
kids’ toys organized rather than under your feet, and other strategies I
discovered by pure luck—surviving many 10-week summer vacations without losing
my mind completely.
I think there’s definitely
something for everyone in Mom Ops
including grandparents, aunts and uncles, babysitters, and, of course, parents.
KP: What do you love most about being a mom?
CB: There are so many things I love about being a mom,
but if I had to pick one thing to hone in on it would be that I feel so
privileged and blessed to be responsible for raising eight unique human beings
who will each, hopefully, make a positive impact in their own special way on
the world.
For instance, a couple of
years ago my son and I were driving to a Boy Scout meeting. It was a frigid,
dark winter’s night, and we were on a stretch of road that was practically
deserted. Almost to the end of the road we witnessed a dog get hit by another car.
It was devastating. My son immediately got out of the car to check on the dog.
It was obvious the injuries were serious so my son held the dog and cradled him
until he died. The driver who hit the dog found the owner and they eventually
arrived on the scene. I’ll never forget how the dog’s family looked at my son
and thanked him for not letting their dog die alone.
Proud moments like that
remind me that every sacrifice and hardship I’ve experienced as a mother for
the past 25 years is why I love being called mom.
KP: Do you think pets are an important part of family
life?
CB: In addition to the crazy love I have for my kids, I
can’t imagine our family’s life without pets. We’ve had guinea pigs, hamsters,
fish, rabbits and a lizard here and there, but the biggest love of our pet
lives have been our dogs.
Pets offer unconditional
love and so many life lessons. They teach responsibility and accountability and
you’ll never find a more loyal greeting when you walk in the door every day
then from your eager puppy who is just as excited to see me if I’ve been gone
for five minutes or five days!
KP: What is your best advice for parents?
CB: If there is one single piece of advice I would give
every new parent it would be to practice consistency in all areas of parenting.
Deep down, all kids (even moody teens!) crave boundaries, regardless of
individual temperament. When they have structure, routines, and rules in place
it offers them a sense of security because they know what’s expected of them.
Boundaries help your child thrive by teaching them responsibility,
consequences, and respect for others as well as themselves.
KP: Your first grandchild was born in December. How has
he inspired you?
CB: My grandson is only a few weeks old and I’m still in
awe of this surreal and breathtaking experience. After 25 years of motherhood,
I didn’t think I could feel the love that I have for my own eight kids for
another human being. But after cutting my grandson’s umbilical cord and hearing
him cry for the first time, I can honestly tell you that my heart grew right
out of my chest.
I couldn’t quite put my
finger on why I was so overwhelmed. Sure he was incredibly beautiful and
adorable beyond words. And yes he is the newest branch of our family tree. Of
course I loved listening to his newborn coos and holding him tight, smelling
that newborn baby smell that is so intoxicating. But that wasn’t it. What
really melted my heart and soul was watching my daughter’s eyes gaze upon her
son and seeing her unconditional love as she soothed him in the first moments
of his life. It took my breath away.
KP: What are your future plans?
CB: I often get asked what my future plans are mainly
because I think people are curious to know what’s on my radar as the youngest
of my eight kids prepare for high school graduation.
I’ve been in the trenches of
motherhood for 25 years now, with my sixth child graduating from high school
this year and two more will be graduated within the next five years. That said,
I feel that in a sense, I have a brand-new life that will be starting, and I
couldn’t be more terrified or excited all at the same time!
Besides
the love of my children, grandson and, of course, my writing career, I also
have a love of adventure. I’m 50 and fearless and ready to take on new challenges
such as public speaking (gulp!), writing a seaside romance series, and many
more freelance writing gigs including a life-long dream of launching a magazine
(stay tuned!). Now that I can navigate Penn Station I intend to be visiting the
Big Apple on a regular basis and who knows, someday soon I may be rubbing
elbows with Hoda on The Today Show.
