Parents of young children

[awaitingthemuse]

For all of you who have young children at home, how much writing do you manage to get done during the day and what do you do with the kiddos while you are writing? I am at home with my 3 yr old and 3 month old. Just now I am aiming for half an hour at my laptop in the evening. If I do that daily I am pleased. I am arranging a writing day with a friend where we alternate babysit children and writing. Looking for other ideas to get some more writing into the day without feeling I am neglecting the kids.

Cheers

[scfirenice]

I started writing when my daughter was 2 months old. I never write while she is awake, but write like mad during naps and after she goes down for the night. My house is a mess half the time and my husband fairly neglected, but I have written2 and 2 halves books in a year. I stay up late writing and get up early. It can be done.

[awaitingthemuse]

Staying up late works best for me (not too late as my baby isn't sleeping through the night yet). I tried the getting up early thing but everyone here decides to get up early with me.

[NeuroFizz]

Five year-old and three year-old at home, and they are on me as soon as I come in from work--it's Daddy time until we put them to bed. I can't touch the keyboard until after 9:00p.m., minimum. Some nights I'm too tired to keep my eyes open. Other nights I have work stuff to do. Fortunately, I don't require much sleep. Most of my writing is done between 11:00p.m. and my pillow.

[Inspired]

My brain was so dead when my kids were that age, I couldn't write. I need a lot of sleep to function. Writing was out of the question. Now, I get up early and do things after they're asleep anyway. I also have a laptop, so I can work on things while they're playing - and can keep an eye on them.

[scarletpeaches]

What's wrong with tying them up, gluing their mouths shut and locking them in a cupboard?

[HConn]

Not one blessed thing.

I write while mine is asleep. My wife looks after him if he wakes early. Since I write at a Starbucks, I come home at a set time every day to make breakfast for them both.

That's about 2 hours a day for me.

[aadams73]

Or crate them like a puppy. ;)

[brinkett]

What's wrong with tying them up, gluing their mouths shut and locking them in a cupboard?
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. One of the reasons I don't have kids.

[Niesta]

I used to write while he napped (he's 2 and 4mo), but he has recently decided naps are for chumps, much to my dismay. I am going to coordinate a babysitting trade with a friend, and I'm going to start taking advantage of inexpensive childminding at a nearby community centre (intended for mums who want a workout, but they don't actually care what you DO just as long as you don't leave the centre!).

I can sometimes get some done while the boy's awake -- he's pretty good about playing quietly by himself for up to half an hour at a stretch. Easier to revise during that time, since it doesn't take as much concentration as composition. I can scribble notes by hand while he plays on the playground.

It must be a little harder with two, at least at first (ours is planned as an only child), BUT they will get to an age where they can entertain each other, and take a little of the pressure off you.

[MountainGirl]

I have a little girl who is almost four and on top of taking care of her, I work, and do all the household chores. So finding time is something I really have to push for. I am fortunate that my mother lives next door and takes Mikala for a hour or so a day. That helps. I write like mad when she is gone. I also tend to keep a notebook around for those moments I can't type what I want. I just open it up, write my idea, and go back to it when I have a minute. I make the most of the time when shes asleep too! Having a young child around and writing is a true juggling act.

Just keep doing what you are doing. No one will fault you for that!

[katiemac]

What's wrong with tying them up, gluing their mouths shut and locking them in a cupboard?

I think we covered the super-glue dilemma over in the "Pacific" thread. :D

[stace001]

I've been very lucky with my 5yr old. I started writing my first book when he was just weeks old, mainly when he was napping and after he went down for the night. Once he became a little older, he was more than happy to play with his lego at my feet, occassionally interrupting me to pull something apart or stick it back together. Now he's off to preschool, i get a few hours during the day to write, but once he comes home, that's it until he goes to bed.

[kristie911]

My son is 15 months old and I usually do all my writing after he goes to bed, usually in front of the tv. I also get a ton of writing done at work (I know...I know...but it works). It doesn't bother me if I'm interrupted or if there's other stuff going on, I can write amid the distractions. And I work third shift so it can get pretty quiet at 4am!

I save my son's naptimes for checking e-mail and the AW boards!

[My-Immortal]

I have one that is almost two, (and my wife has another one on the way!!) and I try to write during nap times and after bed times usually. I have my entire desk 'fenced off' so he can play near the computer, but not on it. I also have a 12 year old, but he's used to seeing me writing. I also carry a notebook and pen around with me (especially in the Jeep) in case I have to park and wait for anyone. I can sometimes edit while the 2 year old is up and about (he's starting to play more with his own toys, but that's only for short periods of time and frankly, I enjoy playing with him).

Okay - back to work - take care. :)

[Nakhlasmoke]

I'm lucky in that my three-year old goes to a creche owned by her granny. On the days when she does stay home, it's not so bad, because she can generally entertain her self. I can hear her having long conversations, and acting little scenraios out with her toys, while I'm busy writing.

It was worse when she was younger and stayed home, because then I'd have to be constantly entertaining her, and I was unable to get any writing done.

All in all, I get a lot more work done when she goes to creche.

[Pencilone]

I have a 7 year old boy who is now at school in primary three and a 5 year old girl that just started school this summer. Yey for me! Now I'll have some time for my writing:) (not to mention that 3 weeks ago we got a kitten and I was as busy with him as with a new baby;) ).

[Christine N.]

My son likes TV.

LOL I put on something educational, of course... he likes Blue's Clues or Sesame Street and do some work. I don't let it go on ALL day, of course, but it does give me a little peace. He's also got some educational computer games, so he plays on the desktop while I click away on the laptop. Or I take a bit of time after dinner, and little man plays with Daddy.

When he was small, I would write while he napped.

[scarletpeaches]

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. One of the reasons I don't have kids.

Nor me; I've never wanted them. 'Orrible little things. I like my peace and quiet.

[Stacey Sweeney]

Luckily (I guess) right now we don't have two vehicles. So, my husband drives off to work and me and the kids are stuck in the country by ourselves. Everyday. It's four miles to the nearest town, so we don't go anywhere. The kids watch tv and I write, or they play with toys and I write between playing with them and being referee. A lot of the time, during the day while they are awake, I do first draft writing, since it doesn't take as much concentration. Then at night, the hubby and I have some 'alone time' and then he knows to get lost so I can write. That's when I type, edit, write the scenes that require more concentration, etc. Since my kids are 1 and 3 and at home with me, it doesn't matter what time we get up or go to bed. I stay up til 1 or 2 and then sleep in while they play (and yell in my ear to get up). And even though my 3 year old is 'too old for naps' as he tells me, he has an hour manditory lay down and be quiet time every day. As long as he stays in his room, resting quietly, he can read books or play with quiet toys, but I get something done and he gets time to rest a little. Oh, and I work in house cleaning whenever I can, mainly when I'm frusturated with what I'm writing and need a break. Its working out really well, and since I can write inside or out, it doesn't matter what the weather is like.
Plus, writing makes me feel like I'm not 'just a mom'. My brain really enjoys being used for something non-kid related again. And that gives me more patience and energy to be a stay-at-home mom.