Today, we have a guest visiting us here at Mom 2 Mom Connection. I’d like you to meet Kathryn Mahoney, a mom of two boys who started her own humor newspaper column. I feel like I know Kathryn because I’ve read her hilarious stories in her new book, Cracked at Birth: One Madcap Mom’s Thoughts on Motherhood, Marriage & Burnt Meatloaf.

If there are any of you out there who have ever thought of turning your family stories or blog into a column, here’s what Kathryn says about it:

Welcome, Kathryn! Can you tell us how you got started writing a column in the newspaper?

Well, it all started when I met a fellow writer named Gina. We met through a printer who we both used when we were working for different financial institutions. He hooked us up because he knew we had a lot in common. We had both left our jobs to take care of our children and we both started our own marketing communications business. One day when we got together with our kids, we were talking about how much we identified with Erma Bombeck.

Oh, yes! I grew up reading Erma Bombeck! She wrote If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? So, did she give you the idea to start your humor column?

Well, Gina mentioned that she would like to try writing a humor column for a newspaper some day and even though that thought had never crossed my mind before, I decided to give it a try. I submitted a couple of columns to my local newspaper, and the editor asked if I wanted to write a biweekly column. That was in 2001, and I am still writing for them today.

Wow! So you’ve been writing a column for five years! Is it hard thinking of ideas every week?

I must admit, I haven’t been writing as regularly as I was when I first started my column. When I made the decision to write my book, the column kind of got put on the back burner because of time constraints and fortunately the editor of the newspaper has been very understanding. Now that my book is out, I really need to get back to writing my column on a regular basis.

What do you like to write about?

I like to write about my family and just the funny things that happen in everyday life that I know many of us can relate to. It’s the best feeling when I receive e-mails from readers who say, “I can totally relate to that” or “my husband does the same thing.” I think most people want to feel that they’re not the “only one” feeling a certain way about things. There is comfort in knowing “you’re not alone.”

Yes, that’s true. So, what would you say to a mom who’s considering starting a newspaper column?

I’d say … GO FOR IT! Like I said, I had no humor writing experience and in fact I was never the class clown or anything. I made my immediate friends laugh, but I always knew that I was funnier on paper than in person so I thought I would give it a whirl. If you think about it, you have nothing to lose by trying, so why not give it a shot?

Is there a certain way to approach an editor?

I think my case was unique because the newspaper I approached is relatively small. There are about 8,000 readers. I think it’s important to know how the editor likes to be approached and you can find that out by either sending an e-mail query or calling them on the phone and asking them a few questions. Is the paper looking to fill a certain need? Could you submit some samples for consideration? What word count do they prefer? Do they prefer e-mail or postal mail? Will they accept e-mail attachments? And then once you send this information, it’s important to follow-up in a couple weeks to discuss the situation. The key is, if you really want it, don’t give up.

That’s great advice for us, Kathryn. Now, I love your sense of humor — you seem to find the most hilarious ways of describing things that can almost drive moms crazy! Do you think it’s important for moms to keep a sense of humor in raising children?

Absolutely! If you don’t, you’ll go out of your ever lovin’ mind. Raising children in the world today is stressful and if we don’t try to approach it with humor and a good attitude I think our children are the ones who ultimately suffer.

OK, so how do we do we keep a sense of humor?

I think you have to learn to let the little things go. I went to a seminar once and the speaker referred to “the little things” as the “C” basket. Baskets A & B are things that might affect your child or other children’s well being and these are things that we should focus on. The “C” basket contains things like what clothes they wear, whether or not they brush their hair in the morning, whether they put their clothes in the hamper, etc. If you stress about the little things every day, you and your children are both going to be stressed out on a regular basis and it won’t be much fun at home.

My husband and I often remind each other about the “C” basket. If I hear him harping on the kids about something I consider a minor infraction, I’ll yell to him, “C basket.” He realizes I’m right and then everybody relaxes and we get on with life.

Wow — that’s a great idea. I’ll have to give the “C” basket a try around my house. What do you think are the really important things we should focus on instead?

I’d say always keep your eye on the big picture. Do your kids have good values? Do they use good judgment? Are they doing well at school? If all of these are true than you’re probably doing a pretty good job as a parent. So what if their hair is pink and their pants drag on the floor. It’s a passing phase and it doesn’t affect who they truly are inside. As they say in all of the parenting books…you’ve got to pick your battles.

A lot of us here are moms who like to write about our families in our blog or other places. Why do you think it’s important for moms to write down stories like you’ve done with your columns and now book?

I just think it’s a great history to have of your child’s life. I don’t know about other moms, but I have a lousy memory, so I knew that if I wrote these stories down as they happened my kids and I would have this history to share together forever. The key is to log these memories so you don’t forget them. Then when you’re older and your children have left the nest you’ll have all of these precious moments to relive in your mind and in your heart when they are out starting their careers and families. Even now I go back and read what I wrote a few years ago, and it puts a smile on my face.

Any more advice on helping us get started?

Just start writing, and don’t edit your words. Let it flow. You’ll be amazed at how just writing the words down on the paper is very cathartic.

Thanks so much Kathryn. You’ve been so helpful! I’m sure there are some aspiring newspaper columnists and essayists out there, and you’ve given us some great tips!

You’re welcome.

Tomorrow, Kathryn will be back visiting with us here to tell us more about her new book, Cracked at Birth: One Madcap Mom’s Thoughts on Motherhood, Marriage & Burnt Meatloaf. She’ll also be here to give us some tips on how to juggle a home business with keeping up with family responsibilities. You can read some of Kathryn’s writing here on Sanity Central and on her website.