Last updated on September 2009
Having six young children, ages 6 to 19 years, isn't easy in any mother's book, and being a writer makes it
that much more difficult. But I am grateful to be at home with my children while they're
growing up—even though
that means taking five or six hours to write what would normally take me two or three.
My morning routine is actually a lot easier
these days with my two oldest out of the house.
One is on a church mission to Japan and the
other is at college at SUU.I fall out of bed
at 7:00 when my husband turns on the primary songs on the CD Player (thanks TJ!). I usually feel groggy because
I stayed up so late the night before painting the house, or reading, doing laundry, or doing something
on the computer after the children went to bed.
After song, scripture study, and prayer, I help the three youngest with their
lunches and breakfast and any last-minute
homework they forgot. I comb my six-year-old's
long hair. If I remember in time, I make the
boys plaster their unruly locks with water. Then my husband takes
them to school (a fifteen to twenty-minute drive
each way). After he's gone, I head to the
computer.
At 9:00 AM my high schooler is finished
teaching her art class in our basement, and she
heads off to school. I used to have to take her,
and pick her up at all sorts of hours (because
of her distance education classes), but now she
finally has her license (as of September 29th)
and can drive herself. (YAY! FREEDOM!)
First I answer important e-mails, do a little
publicity online, and then it's back to work
writing. And there I'll sit until it's time to
get the children at 2:45. Except that far too
often, I have to run errands. Anything from
taking the sick dog to the vet, to driving to
the post office to mail yet another package of
something my college daughter forgot to take
with her, or that she suddenly and desperately
needs. Sometimes I feel like she never left
home! The dentist office is a particularly
annoying repeated event for my daughter in
braces, and I know it's time-consuming, but
someone has to go grocery shopping every now and
then. SIGH.
I'm really blessed this year not to have a kindergartner to pick up halfway through the day, and that
my baby is long out of diapers. Rarely do I answer the phone because then I'll never get anything done. (I have Caller ID
to make sure the call is not from one of my kids.) Sometimes people come to the door, and only then do I realize
that I haven't combed my hair or put on my makeup. Maybe I ought to post a sign:
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DANGER
WRITER AT WORK
KNOCK AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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If I finish my daily writing goal early, I'll go to my treadmill and enjoy myself
reading a book or watching a video. Or maybe I'll go for a swim. But I have to
confess that lately that hasn't been happening
much. I've been in rewrites for several books,
so I just keep on working all day until I have
to pry my cold hands from the computer to
fulfill some other duty. (Don't be too sorry for
me—I love it!) When I'm back to writing a first
draft, I'm sure I'll work in the exercise. Why?
I've bought a lot of sci-fi seasons to watch.
Those are my favorite!After exercising, it's time for a quick bath or shower—if there's time before getting the kids. When
I pull up at the school, I run my fingers through
my hair and dab on a bit of makeup, just in case. (I've learned to carry an extra set in my purse.) About
this time I begin to pray that there's no reason I'll have to go in because you know what? If I didn't get
a chance to exercise—and that happens a lot—then it's likely I'm still in my pajamas! Well, so what?
Isn't working at home in your pajamas part of the American Dream? Well, it is for this author.
It's home then, and time for chores, homework, piano practice, and more errands.
On a good day, I'll I throw dinner in the oven, hoping my husband thinks about picking up bread and fruit
on his way home from work. I try to read at least a chapter from the book I'm reading.
I usually have clean laundry . . . in several baskets around the house. I mop the entire floor . . . only
when my mother-in-law comes to visit—which unfortunately for my floor isn't very often since she lives
in Europe. And I burn almost everything I cook. In fact, for many years the first thing my husband did when
he returned home from work was to check the oven. My children have learned to like very well-done food. Now,
with my busy schedule, there are too many times when I haven't even gotten around to putting anything in the oven.
I'm so grateful for microwaves!
I have, by necessity, learned to delegate, and my children have learned to do their chores. Finally, after
many years of perseverance, they're actually helping. (I even have a child assigned to the kitchen floor, and
it gets done at least halfway, which is good enough for me.)
After dinner, it's time for brushing teeth and pajamas and family prayer. On some evenings I have speaking
engagements, meetings, or book signings, but on most nights I read aloud to my younger
children
I think this is the their favorite time of the whole day. Sometimes even on school nights they can
convince me to read more than I really should.
With the kids in bed, if not asleep, sometimes my husband and I, if we're not too exhausted or loaded with
other things we must do (did I mention grocery shopping?), will watch TV. We like
love shows like CSI, and anything sci-fi-ish. We
also like to eat ice cream all alone without any
kids to feed or clean up after. If we're really
up on our work, we might each read a book.
When we finally shut out the light, it's time for me to plan my next writing day. What direction will my
plot take? What new twists will emerge? Before I sleep, I must know where I'm going. I'm drifting off
and then I hear . . .
"Mommy!"
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