Election Night Urgency

By Kelly

The electricity of election night is palpable.

During my years as a newspaper reporter and editor and then a TV news producer, I spent many election nights in cold, windowless newsrooms, which, on election night, fairly buzzed with adrenaline, bad coffee and jokes that remain, to this day, unprintable. (Why, yes, I was known as The Run-On Queen. Why do you ask?)

It was a little intoxicating, frankly, the long hours and the breathless pace and the access to power. Every third person was on the phone with a candidate or political pundit. The newsroom desk was usually occupied by someone doing an on-air piece. The bank of TVs behind the assignment desk was blaring and insistent. I stayed – heck, everyone stayed – until the bitter end. I usually drove home around 3:00 AM, every nerve in my body still tingling. It took me days to come off the adrenaline high.

Every once in a while, when someone finds out what I used to do with my life before kids, they’ll ask me if I miss it, if I miss the news business and the rush that goes with it.

On election nights, I miss it.

But then again….

Last night, instead of sitting in a control booth and whispering the latest election numbers into an anchor’s IFB, I sat in a dim nursery and cuddled a tired baby. Instead of talking on the phone to Mr. Important’s media spokesman, I watched Connor earn his gold belt at karate graduation.

Instead of feeling important because I took the pulse of the nation, I felt humbled because I am someone’s whole world.

Maybe I don’t miss it after all. After all, there’s urgent. And then there’s important.

I’m just starting to learn the difference.

Kelly also blogs at Love Well, which is both the name of her blog and her motto for living. Sometimes, it takes an election to make her remember that.

12 Responses to Election Night Urgency
  1. Stephanie
    November 5, 2008 | 1:09 am

    Oh Kelly I love this. So timely, so perfect.

    Steph

  2. Donna Blessed Nest
    November 5, 2008 | 1:19 am

    sweet! I was just thinking about my children as the results came true of our new president. My daughter needed me at the same moment and of course I turned off the TV to tend to her needs. What a blessing!

  3. Courtney
    November 5, 2008 | 1:24 am

    That was beautiful! I can agree with the notion of learning the difference between urgent and important.

  4. Rachel
    November 5, 2008 | 1:26 am

    Wow – Great post, and WONDERFUL perspective. I often have trouble really grasping how important motherhood is. But that statement “someone’s whole world” – that really boils it down beautifully. And I love the difference between urgent and important – I’ve never thought about it that way before. I am going to have to start asking myself – “is this urgent, or is it IMPORTANT?”
    Thanks, Kelly – beautiful perspective, as always!

  5. Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)
    November 5, 2008 | 1:47 am

    I have goosebumps!

  6. Elizabeth
    November 5, 2008 | 11:59 am

    So true! We are their whole world, and what a blessing it is. And totally, completely humbling.

  7. Tiffanie
    November 5, 2008 | 12:43 pm

    Very true. And great perspective on the urgent vs. the important.

    There are tons of people who can fill my shoes in the workplace, but I am the only one who has been given the blessing of mothering my kids.

  8. the mama hood
    November 5, 2008 | 2:39 pm

    I really love this post! It’s great to read about a mother who appreciates the blessing of being a mother!

  9. Mocha with Linda
    November 5, 2008 | 7:02 pm

    And to think the man wants to let people abort their chances to experience this.

    Love this!!

  10. Happy Geek
    November 5, 2008 | 7:25 pm

    You were a newspaper?
    Sorry, I should not make fun of a tired mommy.
    Couldn’t resist from one grammar geek to another.

  11. Ashley
    November 5, 2008 | 11:21 pm

    Well put, Kelly.

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