Blog #9: Writing with Children at Home

The hardest part of writing and reading I’ve found is when my kid is at home. And being a stay at home mom this poses a problem. I am the primary caregiver while my husband sleeps and works. I’m not someone that can just casually write or just read one page in a book. I tend to dive head first into my writing, with some music on to drown out the noise of the house. I become absorbed in my work, and tune out the world around me just to write. And this method has been very successful, and I’m able to pound out some good word counts and writing when I get lost in my own head. 

     I feel like when my kid is at home, I can’t just focus on reading or writing. Either she has the TV on, or she’s talking, or she wants to play. And I can’t just focus on the task at hand. I can’t just sit and open a book when she’s home. I can’t just settle into the story and relax. I’ve tried giving her tasks to do, or having her go play in her room but I can’t just focus on my reading, my mind is constantly wondering about her, or hearing her.

      So the only time I really get to sit and read or write is when my kid is at school. But, seeing as I’m a stay at home mom I also have to do the cooking, the cleaning, and getting her ready for the day. I don’t have all day to sit and read, no matter how much I wish I could. Infact, as I’m writing this, I’m taking a minute to write this blog while the kiddo is taking a nap and my husband is picking up dinner.

     I wish there were more hours in the day. More time to do what I love, but alas there is only so much time. I am grateful though that when my husband isn’t working he tries to help so I can write by myself for a bit. He’s very supportive and for that I am extremely lucky.

Signing off,

Fenisha Estes