Division of Time

It started when I had my first newborn in the house. All of a sudden, my time was not my own anymore and it was a fuzzy line between the time that he owned and the time that was 'mine'. Well, not so fuzzy now that I think about it. All of the time simply became his. As he got older though, I somehow managed to etch out a spare hour here or completely steal an hour there, thanks to video entertainment. Mostly though, that time was spent cleaning something.

Then I had another child and I realized that it was my perspective that was wrong. It wasn't that I didn't have ANY time for me, it was simply that that time was being used up with a shower and (possibly) sleep. Out the window was recreational reading, hobbies, concerts, and movies and what a revelation to realize how many hours can be consumed by such activities. Equally time consuming and undoubtedly more rewarding than any of those activities though, were the endless hours of nursing, comforting, burping, tickling, bathing and staring in rapture at my offspring.

Fast forward to my life today with three kids. Diapers and nursing are a thing of the past, but somehow the time constraints are just as tight as they are replaced with Brownies, gymnastics, homework, and classroom volunteering. As for those PK (Pre-kid) activities that I enjoyed so much? Well, I just finished reading a six book series by Diana Gabaldon, even though it took me three months. I've written the rough draft of a novel and still manage to be there for every important activity the children participate in.

With the flux of activity in this house, it is not that I have more time than I did a year or two ago, it is how I divide that time. Early on I felt the need to strive towards supermom status. (See related blog entry). Once I realized, however, that the kitchen was not going to stay clean even if I swept three times a day, I allowed myself a little of that time to research, read, or write. With each segment of perfection that I released, I gained a segment of time for myself.

So now that alien weeds have all but consumed my backyard and I wouldn't dare anyone to lick my dining room floor, I find that I have chisled out enough time for my writing (most weeks). Even at that, I am forced to divide what time I have...novel, blog, research, query letter...

I am inspired by fellow authors (eww, not sure I can claim that title quite yet) who manage to raise kids, maintain friendships, and continue regular blogs and writing assignments. In that thread, I am going to try to recommit myself to my blog and I hope you find the time to come along on the ride.