Okay, So Your Mother’s Blogging Can Literally Change Your Life
As the winners of the best “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” essay topic ever, the twins are in the press pool at the White House, interviewing people at the Kids State Dinner. Their article will appear on BlogHer and in their school newspaper, and I will also hopefully have a post here tomorrow with their thoughts about what it’s like to be eight years old and reporting alongside CNN.
Uh… and I’m covering the event too. But I’m not nearly as interesting. Nor am I even half as cute.
Normally, when I’m covering any event that takes place outside my living room (and requires me to put on something other than yoga pants), I’m pretty nervous beforehand. Not really during the event, but jittery in the lead up to the event. But for the first time ever, I didn’t feel nervous at all because I was going to be spending the day with my mostly companions. It was like taking a security blanket with me. I wouldn’t be alone.
Instead the ChickieNob was nervous since she’s not fond of big crowds, and she waited until the night before to mentally add up the participants (54) and their parents (let’s say another 100) and the staff, First Lady, and all the press, and announced that it was many more people than she bargained for. But she also told me that she’d be fine. The Wolvog, not as articulate at pinpointing the cause of any emotion just said that he’s “nervous but excited.” He practically added a “duh” at the end of that thought.
The only thing I felt jittery about was whether I prepped them enough to feel good about how they covered the event. I think I did. They did some research, watched the First Lady’s remarks from last year’s event, wrote up interview questions. They practiced using the recording equipment, and speaking loudly and clearly. They interviewed me several times.
So I think they’re prepared. There will always be the opportunities that you miss because you didn’t think quickly enough or the ones that you capture by sheer luck. But every journalist — even the mini ones — should go into covering an event thinking about their angle, the questions they need to cover with their article. While they can’t control those magical moments that are either captured or slip away, there is a basic feeling you get when you’re there — either feeling as if you know what is going on or feeling as if you haven’t done your homework — and I want them to feel that they did their best possible job with their first real writing job.
And may this be the first of many writing jobs if they enjoy it.
We are insanely proud of them. Back when I was writing about how hard it was to give up the bottle, I had no clue that several years later, I would be writing about the twins as eight year olds, going to the White House for their first reporting job.
23 comments
How so very cool! You must be so proud and excited for them. The girls got to watch a movie at the White House and met the President and Mrs. Obama and found the first Lady aboslutely lovely and kind. I’m sure they’re going to do a great job!
Amazing! What an experience for them – and what a proud moment for you…
Wow, how amazing! Congratulations, and what a great experience!
way cool.
Watching now. I think I see the Wolvag (well the back of his head) with his iPad! So awesome!
Watching now. I think I see the Wolvog (well the back of his head) with his iPad! So awesome!
Sorry…spelling error.
This is awesomesauce! So proud of them, even from this distance. 🙂
Wow! How exciting for the entire family 🙂
So incredibly exciting for all of you!
How insanely cool!
I totally get your “giving up the bottle” post. I’ve been thinking about that lately with breastfeeding and well, just about anything that will end and the possibility of not having another. On one hand, I’m so thankful to be here, on the other, I wish I could know that I will experience it again.
What a great experience for them! And you, of course. There’s nothing better than sharing your passion with your children. I sincerely hope my daughter grows up and shares some of my interests, but I will be insanely proud of her, no matter what she decides to pursue. Can’t wait to read more about this experience!
This is so cool! 🙂
That is fantastic! Break a leg, kids!
Very neat!
What an amazing opportunity! I’m sure they will do great, and will create memories of a special even that will stay with them forever.
How awesome is that?? Chips off the old block, eh?? 😉
That is really really cool! Can’t wait to read their reports!!
In the words of one of the bloggers I love: holy amazeballs!!! Your kids are way too cool to hang with me. 😉
That is awesome! Congrats to them! What a fabulous opportunity.
Just so cool!
Truly awesome! 🙂
Oh now this is really cool! What a great opportunity and experience for them. I can’t wait to read more about it!