A defining alteration, or how the business is changing

This fall, my family and I moved from Richardton, North Dakota into the larger town of Dickinson. We needed the move to help us get Tyler closer for his job and for my sanity during the winter months. What we didn't foresee was our struggle with finding a preschool for my daughter again.

When we lived in Richardton, I had the best preschool/daycare anyone could ask for. The ladies that worked there loved my kids like I did. They taught them beyond their curriculum, and if I needed a little more time do converse with a bride they happily obliged in watching my kids a little bit longer. Angela came home daily with crafts, journals, and new experiences. How was I supposed to find a match in Dickinson? At first I couldn't so I continued taking Angela to the Taylor Tots preschool, but I soon found out that the hour drive in the morning and in the afternoon was getting to be too much.

So....here comes the big news. I decided that I would teach her preschool. It came to me in visiting with her preschool teacher that I could teach her all that she needed to know here at home with a little bit of help. So I purchased the curriculum and decided to take on one other child as Angela's learning buddy. I tried for about a week to juggle my photography, caring for an infant, and teaching two toddlers preschool and by the end of every night, I was more drained than my body has ever know. I wasn't being 100% in any of the fields and I desperately needed to be, in at least one of them.

With all that said, and I apologize for the rant, I will get on to my point. I have decided to back down on my photography business until all my children are in school. I will honor the weddings, engagements and baby's first packages that are scheduled for next year, however I will not be taking on any other assignments.

It will be hard for me to back down because I love my job so very very much. However, I want my children to remember me playing with them, teaching them, cuddling with them and loving them every minute of the day. And I simply can't do that sitting in front of the computer all day long. The sessions that I am tending to at the moment are taking longer than I would have originally hoped to get back to my clients and that tugs at my heart every time, so I don't want to put more on my plate and keep pushing back the arrival of pictures, books and cards.

I really appreciate every one's understanding in this matter and I will still keep the blog posted with the sessions I sporadically take. Enjoy your holiday season!