The Gilded Margin

By Shyanne Gines

Conference week is over.

And school is starting soon.

That’s basically the entire story.

Last week was conference brain: professional conversations, serious topics, notes, ideas, and the kind of information that makes you want to rethink how systems work.

Then suddenly…

Mom brain.

Where are the backpacks?

Who needs what?

Do we have school supplies?

What are we eating?

Why is there laundry everywhere?

And why did I just walk into this room?

The transition from conference week to school week has been approximately:

Conference bag → backpacks → groceries → animals → laundry → coffee → repeat.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, I remembered that apparently I’m also building an empire.

I’m a mom. A doctorate student. The only Property & Evidence Technician in my department. The only Victim Services Liaison in my department.

I own a couple of businesses.

I’m a co-owner in a real estate venture and involved in a few other projects currently in development that I’m really excited about.

I’m building a family-centered real estate project with my mom, daughter and son—a three-generation effort built around family, assets, and legacy.

And I’m planning my forensics company.

Because apparently my brain looked at all of that and said:

You know what we’re missing? Fingerprint powder.

That’s kind of where my brain lives these days.

One minute I’m thinking about victim services, Property & Evidence, forensics, law enforcement, or research.

The next I’m figuring out school schedules and buying groceries.
Working on a business.
Preparing for my own first day of school.
Feeding animals.
Writing.
And realizing I forgot to move the laundry.

Again.

Life isn’t particularly organized right now.

But it is interesting.

I’m not just trying to stay busy.

I’m building.

Businesses. Assets. A career. An education. A legacy.

And raising kids while doing it.

I never wanted any negative statistic about me to win. I’ve always been someone who pushes forward, who tries to persevere, even when things are hard. I want my children and I to be at a place where we are not just surviving, but building something meaningful together.

So if you see me this week looking like I have everything completely under control…

please don’t ask too many questions.

There are probably backpacks in the car, laundry in the dryer, groceries on the counter, and a business idea somewhere in my notes called something ridiculous.

Welcome back to Mom Brain.

Conference brain will return eventually.

Probably right after I find the missing backpack.

-The Gilded Margin