Welcome to Writer Rants–where every Friday a writer just lets loose on whatever the heck is bugging them this week. Enjoy.
I faintly remember what it was like to be a writer before I became a mom. I always completed work several days before the deadline, my house was always clean, and I had still had a modicum of sanity left. Now that I have kids, I’m constantly scrambling to make those deadlines, my definition of a “clean” house has drastically changed, and my sanity – well, that’s completely gone.
I knew that kids would change my sleeping habits and drain my bank account, but I never realized that kids would change my professional life too. After all, when your home is your office, you don’t get to leave that crazy cacophony behind each day.
While it may appear that I’m successfully juggling motherhood and my freelance writing career with ease, I have a few confessions to make.
Confession #1 – My Kids Know My Deadlines Better Than I Do
While I cannot explain it, my kids seem to know my deadlines better than I do. After all, they’re constantly trying to make me miss them.
Recently, I found myself fighting the clock, trying desperately to complete a large project before the deadline. Suddenly, my son needed my help every five minutes. I finally asked him, “Do you know that mommy has a deadline to meet? Are you having fun making mommy go crazy?” He giggled and answered, “Yes.”
Whenever those deadlines are looming, I can guarantee that my kids will come up with every excuse in the world to make sure I’m not sitting at my desk finishing my work. Are they checking my calendar when I’m sleeping?
Confession #2 – Headphones and Chocolate are My Idea of Survival Gear
As a mommy and an article writer, I’ve found that I cannot possibly live without headphones and chocolate. Do you know how hard it is to create a white paper on audio-archaeology while listening to Barney’s rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus” for the 15th time? When I can’t take one more kiddie song, my headphones are my way to escape. After all, they aren’t noise canceling headphones, so I a piercing scream for mommy will still get my attention.
Don’t forget about the chocolate. My husband learned that long ago. There’s some amazing ingredient in chocolate that makes me mellow, even after writing 10,000 words and dealing with sick kids all day long. He always keeps my desk drawer stocked with chocolate, which he probably does as a method of self-preservation.
Confession #3 – A Trip to the Grocery Store is My Idea of a Social Life
The combination of kids and working at home doesn’t leave much time for socializing. These days, a trip to the grocery store is my idea of a social life. Driving to the grocery store alone counts as “me time,” and talking to a cashier is my source of adult conversation. Last week, I scored a free sample of wine at the grocery store, and it almost felt like happy hour.
After some thought, I realized that combining motherhood and my career has given me something new to put on my resumé – professional juggler.
Joy B is a writer, blogger, musician, and professional mommy. When she’s not working on her current novel, she enjoys photographing Arizona’s magnificent sunsets, nursing her chocolate addiction, and spending time with her family.
