Yesterday’s Open Door had some good questions-which is cool on several levels. One… *G* it means people are reading the blog. Two…*GG* it means I have instant blog topics.
How do manage to write and still find time for family. I know it was hard for me in grad school just to sit down and write papers without taking up to much family time, or general interruptions. It was either that or write in the wee hours of the morning. Do you write when an idea comes to you? Or, do you have a specific time that you just sit and write and everyone generally understands not to bother you?
No, yes…yes…yes…no…and I wish… *G*
In all seriousness, I have one crucial requirement that saves my sanity. *G* I have a sitter.
Writing is a full time job.
Being a mom is a full time job.
I’m not patient enough to try do the first one while the kids are home. I love them dearly, but there is no way I can focus long enough to get serious work done on current projects. I can answer email, update websites, deal with promo and all that when they are home-and often do. But actual writing?
Unless the story is really pushing me, I tend to save my actual writing time for the days they go to the sitter. Those are my ‘work’ hours. Back when I was still working full time outside the house, I usually did my writing on lunch hour and late at night. Of course, now I wonder how I managed, because I swear, I’m ten times busier now than I was then. I made it work, somehow.
I have recently set up a ‘rule’-the youngest doesn’t quite get the rule, but toddlers are more interested in creating their own rules, so that’s a work in progress. My office is set off by itself in a room, however, two of the walls are open. So no doors. My kids kept traipsing in and out, constantly interrupting me when I was dealing with email, so I finally told them, “If you want to come in here when I’m working-you knock. On the wall. You wait until I answer, THEN you can come in.” It’s helping…some. Makes them remember I’m not just playing (or at least not all the time) and they do need to let their mama work.
I guess the thing with writing while your kids are at home is all about setting boundaries. It’s not as easy when they are young, which is my issue. But hopefully as they get older, if you stay consistent, they’ll get into the habit of letting mom having her work time.