This past summer was one of the best for me and my family, full of relaxing days at the lake and fun adventures. Aside from one great week in July, I took a holiday from working on my manuscripts. Like Trish over at Word Bitches, I looked forward to getting back to my work in September, once my kids were in school. I’m now a week into my plan and things are going…not great.
Last year my daughter was in school for two mornings a week and I worked part-time from home, yet I managed to crank out a decent number of words in those six hours. She’s now gone every morning—which frees up 20 hours a week—plus I was laid off in August. In theory I should be writing non-stop. The reality is very different. Here’s how the first week of school mornings has gone down:
Day One
I went straight from the school drop-off straight to the hairdresser, reasoning that the glare of my grey roots on my monitor was too blinding for me to focus on the screen. Bought groceries on the way home (the Serb someone scarfed all of the lunch treats).
Day Two
The Serb is self-employed and I’m his de facto secretary. He informed me that he would be going to Europe for business in two days, leaving me to book his hotel (sold out), flight (ditto) and car (“Can you get me a Mercedes for under $80 a day?”). I do this because making his trip go smoothly increases my chances of getting something other than airport Toblerone for a present.
Day Three
A friend visiting from Australia could only see me on this particular morning. There may have been maple-flavoured Timbits involved. What am I…made of stone?
Day Four/Five
Weekend. On my own with the kids. Didn’t have time to shower, let alone write.
Day Six
The morning was spent cleaning up the aftermath of having both kids home on a rainy weekend. In addition, I bought more groceries (see also: stress eating).
Day Seven
I received a call that kitchen countertops we ordered a month ago were in and that I needed to buy a new sink/faucet before installation could take place. The morning was wasted at Home Depot, where I stared at a wall of chrome for 90 minutes.
Day Eight
I confirmed with a contractor dude that counters would be installed the following day. Spent the morning emptying all kitchen cupboards, then returned the sink/faucet bought the day before in search of something less…chromey.
Day Nine
My husband will be home tonight and until then, I’m dealing with this all day:
Oh well, tomorrow is another day, right? RIGHT?!?!?
Andrea
bjas
Sharon
Maria
Restless Writers 
I hear you. I’m kind of fumbling in my writing. Can you book me a hotel and flight to Europe? I’ll pay you back. In 2064…
How ’bout I book you a trip to Toronto and my guest room instead? 😉
Tempting. Will the Serb pour my wine?
Ha-ha, oh this is good. We so need a writing retreat……
Oh, oh, me, me..Pick me! I wanna retreat too!
Seriously, Lori. I feel your pain. I had big plans for September (like always) and it’s just so not working out the way I planned. That being said, I kind of ditched on work and the run I was supposed to do today to write. Hey…don’t judge me. 😉
I shall never judge those who ditch anything for anything else. Especially when I’m enjoying the jug of wine my husband just poured me…
Omg! This is so me. I’ve had doctor’s, dentist’s and eye appointments. Both girls had both family and friend’s bdays this past month so I spent my time buying presents, decorations, lootbags etc…
Im hoping to start writing seriously next week. Someone should tell moms that Sept is not an easy month, not a month to have free time. Way too much to do.
I swear, just living life is taking up all my time. (Living life??? my husband would ask…)
Yes. Groceries. Laundry. Cooking. Cleaning. Homework. Kids’ extra-curriculars. Romance (maybe). Exercise and grooming (maybe). Extended family and friends. Bills. Bank. Dry cleaning.
You get my point.
I laugh when I thought a leave of absence from teaching would free me up to write (as you put it) non-stop. Instead, it freed me up to do all the stuff I neglected when I was working full time because I have no more excuses for it to not get done.
I’m home, after all.
So yeah. Not as much writing getting done as I’d hoped.
But I figure the kids will be out of the house in six to eight years. And I won’t even be 50 yet.
Probably.
I would like to see the counter/sink/faucet “after” picture please 🙂