My Writer's Schedule

     Many people who know me are reading this post and wondering - how in the world are you gonna do this on top of every other thing you do? I only know this because I have already been asked several times. So I wanted to dive into the day of a typical (maybe atypical) SAHM trying to build a writer's life while holding down the fort. I must confess - I am a night owl. 🌙 My mother is a night owl. 🌙 My grandmother is a night owl. 🌙 I have tried to be a morning person, but it's not a fight I'm participating in anymore. 🎉

    8 A.M. - While the man guy is up and at it in the wee hours before the sun shines, the rest of the house doesn't start moving until about 8 A.M. Yep. I said it - 8 A.M. Sometimes evil things require us to awaken earlier, but those things are few and far between. Typically a cup of coffee is ready or soon ready, depending on if the man guy left some for me or if the oldest had to make some. The oldest will start breakfast. She loves baking, and breakfast guarantees her that daily opportunity. ☕

    9 A.M. - By the time breakfast is served, I have checked the weather and the day's agenda, fed the cats, and started laundry. 😼😼😼

    10 A.M. - Group subjects are started - science, history, bible study, art/music, and play. This year we are studying American History - early Native Americans through modern times in North and South America; Anatomy of the human body and plants; Chemistry; Prophetic Books of the Bible; relevant artists and musicians; and team-building sports. We do two subjects a day, rotating however we/I feel like, 3-4 lessons a day if the boys can keep focus. 🔬💀

    12:30 P.M. - Lunch & Clean-Up, laundry switched/hung. 🍴🍞🍎

    1:15 P.M. - Some days I run errands after lunch; most days the children dive into individual subjects- math, writing/typing & language arts, and foreign languages/instruments. Often, I need to help the boys or answer a question for the girls, but many days I can scribble a couple of ideas in my notebook. After reviewing history and science and letting the day's lessons marinate, a few story ideas will pop up. 📝

    3:00 P.M. - The children are released to play outside, board games, or read. I'll sit in my comfy chair in the library or my wicker chair on the front porch and open my laptop. Some days I can write chapters. Some days I can scribble random sentences. I like to watch the kids and write whatever comes to mind. The point of this writing time is not necessarily for a purpose. It's more to purge my thoughts and anxieties of the day. 💻

    Between four and five o'clock, the man guy comes home, unwinds, and gets ready for dinner. He cooks half of the week, and I cook the other half. 🏠🍝

    6 P.M. - Dinner together at the table. We eat dinner together at the dining table 99% of the time. This is important to us as a family. We check in with each other. The children tell the man guy about what they did and what new things they learned. We talk about things we need to work on, things we are proud of doing, and things that are important to us. Everyone speaks and gets a turn to say his or her piece. It's one of my favorite times of the day. This is, of course, followed by evening chores and reading or quiet play - think coloring, Legos, or quietly crashing toy planes into each other. 📖💥

    8 P.M. - The man guy and I trade nights for putting the boys to bed. If it's not my turn, I get to escape right away to my writing room. Otherwise, I must wait until the endless barrage of questions from the two most inquisitive minds in the world stops, and silence abounds. And so, between navigating preteen emotional angst and a wave of cat memes from the other parental unit, I try to type out a few words nearly every night. 😹🙀

    10:30-11:30 P.M. - When I am ready, I call it quits. I take a quick shower, do my face stuff, get in bed, and either watch a show or read a couple of chapters to wind down. I try to lie down around midnight/12:30 and fall asleep somewhere around 1 A.M. maybe. 💤💤💤

    Some days are more productive than others. Once or twice a month, I "take a day off" and let the kids play video games while I escape to my writing room to get a story out that is brewing in my head. There are eight to twelve writing hours available on most weekends. 👀🏃📝

    It's not always easy, but my whole family is adjusting to make my dream work. As the children continue to grow and pursue their own paths, I will have more opportunities to dedicate time to writing. The delicate balance between family and writing will topple to one side or the other now and again. And that's okay. 💣😎