My oldest daughter is turning ten next Sunday. This decade, my first decade as a mother, has passed impossibly fast.

Earlier this year, I had a big idea. I planned to write a book for my daughter as a gift for her birthday. She is a voracious reader and she loves to hear stories about my life. My concept — to write a book in four parts, with lessons and stories from each of my four decades.

I wrote nearly two thousand words, which seemed like barely a start. I posted my introduction here and got a good response. But then I stalled.

I wondered how I could possibly finish a book in time for her birthday. The more time that passed, the more impossible it seemed.

My life is pretty busy (whose isn’t?). I juggle my day job and family and have recently added some extra work and personal writing projects. It seems like every day presents a new exciting opportunity or idea and I have  trouble saying no.

In saying yes to lots of ideas and opportunities, I said no to the idea of writing a book for Cami’s big birthday.

Until this morning, I thought of my book idea as abandoned, left behind.

Except. I can still write the book, when the time is right. It can still be a gift, even if I finish it when Cami is twelve or twenty.

Not abandoned, postponed.

Tell me something! What dreams or ideas have you set aside? Is now the time to return to them? What ideas can you re-frame from abandoned to postponed? And, when will you know that the time is right to return to those dreams?

photo credit Jo Naylor