Finding the Time
Finding time to write is something I daily struggle with as a busy homeschooling mom. We all know about full schedules, most of us are writing around them already. For the past eight months, I’ve been hiding behind one excuse or another but what it all boils down to is fear. I’m afraid that I can’t “do it all”. I’m afraid that if I sit down to write, I’ll still be there four hours later and be way behind on my other priorities. I also fear my husband and children becoming resentful of my passion for writing. So far, they haven’t. Thank you, God!
I’ve been thinking I’d need to eliminate blogging or start getting up at 5:00 A.M., or something else. I don’t watch TV. I don’t play video games. I read when I can, but it’s not often. I can’t cut back on any more household chores or my insanity meter will flip out on me. And how exactly does one cut back on homeschooling? They don’t, any more than an employee can cut back on hours at work.
I know that fellow homeschoolers Amy Wallace and Tricia Goyer manage to fit writing time in, and this encourages me. Amy spends her Saturdays writing while her husband and daughters clean house. Tricia not only schedules her writing in, she works alongside her children in the same office, teaching and helping them as they need it. In fact, at her blog recently, she said we’d be surprised at how many of her books were written in thirty minute increments!
Thirty minute increments. It sounds simple, doesn’t it?
Another way I’m trying to extend my time is by organizing. As thankful as I am for a small house with one bathroom (less to clean), the reality looks like clutter–multiplied by five, two parents and three craft-happy kids! I doubt I’ll ever be a woman with “everything in its place” but I sure see the appeal. Especially if I could pare down our possessions to the bare essentials. Taking a few weeks to de-clutter our home and lives of “stuff” and unnecessary “obligations”, a few weekends a year to mega-cook the family meals, and a month in the summer to organize for the school year ahead all make great sense to me.
How do you make the most of your 24 hours?
