to write
and then I shall get my mom up and get the day going for her
plus, there are so many chores to be done
But for now
writing.
I have a friend who’s getting ready to quit her job and just write full time. She’s a serious girl when it comes to her writing. She’s smart and good at what she does. She’ll be a success, I think. Finally doing something she loves.
For years now I should have been writing full time. I’ve always let my worries get in the way. My fears. The housework.
And of course I still have family at home and that has always taken precedence.
If you could write full time, how would you arrange your day?
What would you do differently?
It’s time for me to think, to plan, this for myself.
Perhaps I need to think not in hours, but in words.
I know a writer who locked her kids away from her as she worked. Left older siblings with screaming babies, so she could write.
I know of women who have chosen careers over children.
To each his own. We each have our own set of rules–what we will allow, what we can tolerate. (Mette Ivie Harrison has spoken about boundaries. I like what she’s said.)
At this point in my kids’ lives, I’m not ready to lock them out. I want my older girls to always be able to find me. My youngest to be able to walk in when she needs me. Me to go looking for them and find them. I need hugs too, ya know.
Anyway, I’m thinking a lot about how I want to fashion myself as a writer. I figure I have two years before I need to really be able to stand on my own, with no support from anything else.
Speaking of children, I know someone who’s raised a possible serial rapist or serial killer. Kid’s missing a conscience, maybe?(No. I’m not joking.) Maybe I’ll write about THAT this morning.
Throwing Up Words 
For me, being a mother and a writer is all about balancing your roles. While the kids are around, I try to be at least an 89% mom. I’ll sneak away to write when they are playing well with each other or watching a show. But I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking I love my computer more than I love them, so there are a lot of times I have to shut everything down so I’m not tempted. I try my hardest to be present, even when my mind is consumed by the story I’m working on. I’ve found that you can flesh out ideas even when you’re cleaning up vomit, like I was last night.
You are right, Lauren. The old brain will work for us while we are the mom. Then, when we are older are brains stop working. Hope your book is going well. 🙂
I like this post. You’re right that everyone has to set their own goals and their own boundaries. What works for one writer, doesn’t necessarily work for another. Also, I like that you are available for your girls. I think that’s important. Maybe more important than writing a good book.