Debi Gutierrez - The Mad Mom In The Minivan

I am an actress, a talk show host and a stand up comedian. I love what I do. It is my oxygen. I feel alive when I am on stage and connecting with the audience; ranting and raving about children, marriage, sex and current events. I love interviewing people; each question and answer provide insight into an interesting topic. As an actress I can be anybody! The choices are limitless! I have been called in for a two headed snake, a talking daisy, a bombshell secretary, a high school principal, and of course many calls for a wife and mommy, a role I am well suited for.

Show business has been very good to me. I have been blessed with wonderful opportunities. Recently my career has hit some stumbling blocks. Finances have hopscotched. The writer’s strike was devastating and in the summer, actors may be poised for another strike. The price of gas has greatly affected traveling costs to get out on the road and comedy clubs are seeing a decline in attendance as expendable income for entertainment is a luxury.

I have had some time off work to reflect on some very important issues and make some wonderful discoveries.

The first discovery I made is that my husband is a wonderful person. Not once has his confidence in me wavered. He continues to be supportive and helpful with my career. His advice is well thought out and wise and most important, it is tempered with love.

I also discovered that being a stay at home mom comes with many responsibilities. It also comes with so many unexpected joys. Managing my family and home has it’s challenges and it’s rewards. No one is better at raising my children than me. I take pride in caring for my family. I love making meals special, reading novels with my daughter, bike riding just for fun, organizing projects that have been side lined for years. I have even enjoyed researching ways to budget and creatively provide for my family. I take better care of myself.

It has not all been wine and roses! I have been so stressed and miss work terribly. I have to remind myself that this is not a reflection on my abilities or talents, but like many of you who have lost your job and fallen on tough times, your logical self tells you that things will get better. Friends and family will tell you the same. And yet, there are times that you get down and blame yourself. I have been harder on myself than anyone ever could. I woke up and didn’t want to do a thing, why bother, who would even notice. I still fight those feelings now and then and I have to remind myself of all those things I am grateful for.

Oprah encouraged her audience to start a gratitude journal and write five things in their lives for which they are thankful. I gave it a haphazard try and realized that if these thoughts are not written down every day they could very well be swallowed up by a negative thought. I pulled out a notebook and began. I don’t ever have a hard time finding something to grateful for. I am grateful for today’s weather! June gloom, I just love having winter revisit. I got a thank you note from Ann Marie Quinlan, a breast cancer survivor who had relapsed. I performed at her fundraiser and was amazed at her positive spirit! She looked beautiful and was surrounded by good girl friends. My daughter, Pilar went to the event and experienced the beauty of friendship. This one event could help me fill up pages in my notebook! And not one of those blessings would be based on self pity or relief. That one event made me feel grateful for friends, womanhood, strong marriages, modern medicine, laughter, and the generosity of people who don’t even know Ann Marie, but her goodness has such a ripple effect, they came out of the woodwork to help.

I never have to look to far to find things for which I am grateful.