The Six Word Mum: Michelle Teahan

This week the M Word would like to introduce one of newest writers Michelle Teahan to you. Inspired by her beautiful girls, Michelle has written some amazing pieces for The M Word. Michelle puts her real self on paper, she expresses her honesty and exactly how she feels through her writing. Whether it be fiction or fact, Michelle writes for the love of it, but her dream is to become a published author.

There is more to Michelle than meets the eye. Oh yes, this girl has a degree in Medical and Molecular Cytology, not sure I can even pronounce that, so it must be important! But Michelle is taking a well earned break and concentrating on rearing another two geniuses to take over the world!

An avid Harry Potter fan, no wonder she would love the power of flying for just a day. Only problem is getting a  babysitter so she can enjoy her power. But like all great mothers, Michelle would settle for using her powers to get stuff done at home, but at a much quicker pace. But you could always borrow a broom Michelle, room on the broom for three!

Michelle’s piece ‘Back to work? Not this time’ is her raw and honest article on why she chose to stay at home after having her second baby girl.

Enjoy getting to know our Michelle.

Describe Motherhood in six words?

Fulfilling, constant, enlightening, worrisome, rewarding, fun.

What inspires your writing?

My girls. They’ve inspired me to follow my passion for writing and to strive to achieve my ultimate goal of one day becoming a published novelist. Whether I succeed with that ambition or not, I love to write and will enjoy every second of the journey.

Another reason I write can be summed up by one of my favourite Robert Frost quotes-

“I write to find out what I didn’t know I knew.”

That’s what I love about writing- whether it’s in my journal, on my blog, for The M Word, a poem, a piece of fiction or my novel, I learn something. I spill part of myself onto the page and I learn from that.

What’s your story?

My husband and I got together in school when we were sixteen and now, sixteen years later, we have two beautiful girls. I’ve a degree in Medical and Molecular Cytology (please keep up to date with your smear tests!) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Science. I love science but writing is my real passion. I’m currently taking a career break to stay at home with my two girls, and between spending my days with them and writing in the brief gaps of free time, I’m loving each and every second of it.

Whose writing do you admire and why?

I admire everyone who writes, in all forms and genres, especially anyone who’s completed and published a novel – it’s such a major achievement.

I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan so from a fiction point of view I’m going to be extremely obvious but honest and say I admire J.K. Rowling. I admire/respect/am incredibly envious of her ability to create such a fantastical yet credible world in the Harry Potter series. It gives me serious writing goals. I can’t wait to read them to my girls. I just hope they like them! I’ll still read the books to them but it would just be nicer if they enjoyed it 🙂

If you had a super power for just one day only what would it be and what would you do with it?

Power to fly, without a doubt. Barely even have to think about this one. I always dream that I can fly. Maybe I was a superhero in a former life, or a bird, or a – OK, lots of things can fly but anyway, with all the dreamworld practice I’m fairly positive I’d be good at it. This is important if I’ll only have it for one day, I don’t want to waste any time trying to figure out and fine tune my super power!

As for what I’d do, well that would very much depend on whether I could get a babysitter or not. Realistically I wouldn’t and just spend the day flying around the kitchen getting food ready, flying to get nappies, flying to bring the washing to the utility room… I think this super power may be wasted on me.

Which story are you most proud of and what inspired you to write it?

‘Back to work? Not this time!’ I’m most proud of this piece because I was finally able to put down on paper how I felt about going back to work after my first baby. It was nice to be able to sort through those emotions. The decision not to go back to work after my second baby was what inspired the piece. I was able to be honest with a more positive tone which is my favourite way to write.

Get in touch via Michelle’s website, Facebook or Instagram.