The past week was crazy. Kiddos off school, work, life, blah blah blah.
Because the kiddos were off school, I watched an inordinate amount of Scooby Doo. Almost every episode ends with the criminal exclaiming, "and I would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids." Or some version thereof.
I can relate to the criminals... I kept saying that over and over while the kiddos were off school. I'd start working on a project, and wham! "Mom, she bit me!" "Mom, she said I was ugly." "Mom, she won't help me clean." "Mom, I need some milk." "Mom, I'm hungry."
Needless to say, I've gotten little done over the past few days.
Recently, on the ACFW loop, people were discussing the idea of being a SAHM and trying to get writing done. A lot of folks talked about what they do to facilitate writing and kids.
I've shared a lot with you all about my Panera time, Starbucks visits, and my beloved Denny's. That's how I get my writing done. With the kiddos off school, I didn't get my two Panera days and I'm hurting for it. I didn't get the writing done I needed, and it's been driving me crazy. Those pesky kids!
I finally resorted to bribery. If they let me have my writing time, I'd bake cookies with them. It sort of worked. We baked cookies, but I didn't get as much writing done as I would have liked. But that's okay.
The reality of being a writing mom who also works the tax season is that I don't always get to write as much as I'd like. However, I'm learning to balance the realities of parenting with the realities of being me. It's important to set boundaries with my kids to let them know writing is important to me. I want them to know that dreams are important and require hard work. Just because I'm "mom" doesn't mean I don't have dreams. More importantly, as I model the behavior of what it takes to achieve dreams. How else will my kids learn that the things they want to do with their lives aren't going to just land in their laps? But I also want them to know that they are important to me. I've always got time for a cuddle, and some of my best stuff is written with a kiddo on my lap.
So what about you? How do you balance the demands of parenting and working towards your goals?
4 comments:
Here's how I balance it--I take my birth control pill every night.
Every night.
ROFL Heather!!
I don't have an outside job but I babysit a 6 month old during the day while the kiddos are at school(which used to be my writing time)and he doesn't go home until suppertime so I have to fight for writing time and grab it in little bits and pieces everywhere.
I like Heather's answer better though. lol.
Heather, you funny! Danica, I write when my son is at school so I guess I have it pretty easy. When he is home, I tell him for one hour Mom is writing and you are doing...whatever. Playing with toys, watching TV, etc. It works for us. I can't imagine doing all your doing during tax time, tho!
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