This Is Why I Have Written Nothing Today
Don't let this face fool you.
THIS is the reason I am sitting here at 4:30 p.m. with one lousy page written, a massive headache, tightness in my shoulders, and ready to just give up.
He's awfully cute, but today I have been bitten a dozen times. I have been climbed up as if I am a tree. My bookshelves have been scaled. My hair has been pulled. The dogs have had cookies thrown at them. I have swept the kitchen floor three times from tossed food. I have cleaned a high chair tray twice from dumping out juice. I have had my phone hung up on once. I changed . . . I think five diapers. One bath. He now has yogurt in his hair. And I wrote one page.
ONE page.
ONE page.
Just shoot me.
This is a blog post to all the moms and dads out there who write. Or who do any job from home. I know all about those gremlins and monsters and some days it is just, simply put, impossible. Today, I threw in the towel. I give up. The better--and cuter--man won.
And that's OK, because there is always tomorrow.
Parents, remember to kiss your kids. And then remember to cut yourself some slack. Because some days, it just ain't gonna happen. And the Buddhist in me accepts that.
Today is that day.
Can anyone relate?
posted by Erica Orloff at 3:59 PM
18 Comments:
The other day, my son was working on an essay for school while I was working on a blog post. He said, "I don't see why anyone would want to write if they don't have to." Young master Jack (whose picture, btw, is beside the word 'bonny' in the dictionary) probably feels the same way. Why would anyone want to write when there are tons of cookies to throw and bottomless cups of juice to spill?!?!
Some days I feel the same way. :)
Jude:
I know. WAY too busy for Mom to be writing. But I truly meant the blog post to sort of commiserate with anyone who works from home. It's a VERY tricky thing to do.
I can imagine. I've always thought I would make a good SAHD, but I have to admit I relish my time alone to write.
Jude:
it isn't easy. I usually have good days, but today was a tear-filled one. Just not a good mommy day. Not a good writer day.
xo
E
Boy can I relate but dang he's CUTE!!!!!!!!! :D
Thanks, Amie. He really has an angelic quality, and you can't see it in the picture, but DIMPLES, too. But of my four kids, THIS is the one who is going to kill me.
:-)
E
Hey Erica!
Oh man, can I relate. It's 8 p.m. in Michigan, where I am visiting family for the holidays. Thankfully, my mother is watchign my baby tonight so I can get caught up on my work. My 14-month-old daughter sprained her foot last weekend, and it has been one long, unproductive week since then!
But sometimes, even when we're frustrated for our hard it is to balance writing and babies, we get moments of perspective. My aunt was over the other day, and I was cranky with exhaustion of trying to keep a toddler from walking. My aunt patted me on the shoulder and said, "Thank God you get to be home with her." And she's right. Even when things are crazy, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I work when I can. Late at night. Early in the morning. In five-minute spurts, standing at the kitchen counter with the cord to my laptop draped over my shoulders so she won't trip on it.
Your son is beautiful.
*Peace*
Louise
Oh boy, do I ever relate! I had a week of the Little Dude so my husband could make his deadline. At the end of it, I wondered if I could do a round two with another baby. But then he'd do something sweet like walk over and give me a hug, or press his face against my chest like it was the only safe place in his world.
And then compromising my work to be the Little Dude's mom didn't seem like such a sacrifice. But man it is hard to balance the two when we're all under one roof.
Love,
Mary
Yes! I can totally relate. This whole month has been hard for writing but wonderful for family.
Not much shopping and commercialism. Just a whole lotta hangin' out having hot cocoa and latkes and singing carols in the car on the way to Grandma's.
Deadline, schmedline. They're only this age once. And I love December!
:) d
PS He is adorable!
Louise:
Perspective, I have found, is the only way to get through it. Well, that and acceptance. In the BIG scheme of life, a day with a frustrated toddler is nothing. He's healthy. I have the wonders of being there for every moment. It's my profession--which affords me being home--demands creativity. And for me . . . I am not terribly creative when stressed or tired.
E
Louise . . .
P.S. a toddler with a foot sprain! I can't even imagine!!!!
Mary:
I live for those moments that make me melt. I think balance is . . . well, and illusion a lot of times. Balance implies there is some secret way, that if we do it right, will mean we can balance the writing with the kids. But it's more like circadian rhythms or tremendous peaks and valleys and sometimes one wins . . . and sometimes . . . the Little Dudes of the world have their evil world domination. :-)
E
dana:
I wish I could say deadline, schmeadline. But . . .
So while caroling and sipping hot cocoa, I've got to finish this book!
Happy Holidays!!!!
E
Awwww, lookee-wookee at the wittle facey-wacey! My uterus aches just looking at his picture!
And then, I read your blog entry.
The ache miraculously stopped! Go figure...
karm:
LOL!!!!!
But you know . . . . today is better. He's back to being a cutie.
I don't work from home, but I write at home. I have completely given up on writing when I am with the 2.5 and 4 year old. My time with them is my time with them. If I have any other agenda there is tension and usually a bunch of time-outs.
I just write like mad when they are sleeping and hope that I get something good down that doesn't require too much editing. Since I have the day-job keeping a roof over our heads I don't have the same urgency to write that many of you do.
Some days the best you can do is give in to the demands of the day and do your "work" later. It may be that there is a lesson to be learned there... or it may be that the universe is just telling you to take a break.
ewoh:
So true. At some point, some days, I just throw in the towel. I am happier knowing I am here with my kids all the time. It is what has me at peace. But there are definitely days when the stress just comes in endless waves--as I am sure it is for everyone.
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