Being a mom is a full-time job. Even as I’m writing this guest post my daughter is calling for help dealing with tech issues for school. In a few minutes, she’ll call me again. This is what all moms signed up for and trying to juggle full-time writing (or any other at-home job) at the same time can be a struggle.
Finishing up edits for my latest release, Reckless Dreams, I was constantly on call. My daughter is doing virtual schooling because of Covid-19. It was a choice our family made to help protect some more venerable family members. It also put a strain on the routine she and I had worked out over the last ten years.
Over the years other moms and a few dads have asked for advice and my coffee-addicted mind came up with a list of ever-changing survival tips and tricks. That list popped back out for our changing routine and I thought it might help some other struggling moms.
Tip 1: Have a plan. Every parent is going to plan differently. Some have lists and others have calendar organizers. How you formulate the plan isn’t as important as having one. Know what should get done in a day or week and plan to do it. This includes writing plans, parenting plans and anything else that needs doing.
Trick 1: Be willing to throw that plan out the window. Life is beautifully chaotic and sometimes it’s downright brutal. If that plan isn’t going to work out start improvising and try to enjoy it.
Tip 2: Meal time distractions and notebooks. Depending on the age of your child or children meal time can serve as a great distraction. If they can feed themselves after you put the food in front of them sit down with them and have a notebook with you. You can jot down notes and interact with them as needed. This isn’t something you can do every meal, but it can help if you’ve got a project due or a chapter you need to work through.
Trick: Give the kids their own notebook or coloring book. Let them be creative while you work. “Working with Mommy” got me through the toddler years and helped me meet a lot of deadlines. Always let them show off what they’ve created afterward. This encourages creative growth and confidence.
Tip 3: Set working hours. When my daughter was young my working hours were early in the morning and late at night. Those were some rough years but I stuck to myself imposed schedule. When she got older and started school my hours shifted to her school hours. Sticking to these hours and changing them as life changed I was able to get some writing or editing done every day. In the summers my hours shifted more to the third shift night owl hours and have this year started creeping back to that. Those are my hours to work and while I may be on call I’m still treating them life work hours.
Trick: Give yourself a weekend. Begin a mom is 24/7 but being a writer doesn’t require that. Just like getting a day off at an outside-the-house job helps relax us getting a day off from writing can do the same. Use those working hours for some personal care once or twice a week.
Tip 4: Finally, enjoy it all. Life as a mom and writer can get stressful. Kids get sick and deadlines pop up way faster than expected. Try to enjoy as much of it as you can. Celebrate the good days and try to find reasons to smile on the bad days.
Trick: Keep something fin close at hand. For me it changes from time to time. For a while it was a few cans of silly string. At random we would have sill string wars. Creating these fun memories can help you smile through tough times.
Being a mom and a writer is the best gift the world could have ever given me. It’s a balancing act and there is strain, but it’s also full of laughing and celebration. Nothing makes me smile more than when my daughter does the happy dance with me when I get a great review or an acceptance letter.
Thanks for reading and I hope these tips and tricks help you out too.
Stories from the Dream Realm
Book One
J.R. White
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: March 15th, 2021
ASIN: B08X2XMNJ7
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 54,000
Cover Artist: J.R. White
Tagline: Embrace Your Destiny in the Dream Realm
Book Description:
The only thing Karlee Bolt has on her mind is her upcoming beach vacation, but her plans are derailed by dark shadows and a knight with a brilliant, bright light. Karlee is suddenly thrown into another realm and into a battle she has no way of fighting.
A Watcher by right, DjinnShay Court is a warrior that protects the balance between the realms. When the Dreamweaver is suddenly dropped into his lap, Court must change tactics. No longer a warrior that stands between the realms, he must now lead Karlee through the Dream Realm and show her there’s more to dreams than fantasy.
Excerpt:
Before Karlee could get the next book on the shelf, a loud thunk made
her jump. Spinning around to face the disturbance, she took a slow step
forward. “Hello?” At first only silence answered her and then a distant click
followed by another and then the sound echoed through the disorganized mess.
She took another step, but it wasn’t until the lights illuminated the hallway
clicked off that she realized what the sound was.
Backing away from the approaching darkness, Karlee turned to run. The
clicking of the lights going out behind her grew louder. On the other side of
the basement was the door that led outside and onto the street. She ran faster
as her heart started to race. As the clicking grew louder and closer, she heard
heavy feet hurrying along with it.
The lights directly above Karlee started to shatter. Sparks cascaded
down on her and bounced across the floor. Making a quick turn, she could see
the door just a few yards away, but just as she was closing the distance, she
felt something tug at her hair. Letting out a shriek, she dashed towards the
steps that led away from her tormentor. As one foot touched down on the stair,
the other was yanked out from under her. She crashed into the wooden steps and
felt a cold solid mass wrap itself around her ankle. It began to slither up her
leg and she kicked out, desperately trying to clamber away.
There was nothing but darkness behind Karlee. Even the thing that held
onto her and was scratching at her skin seemed to be made of shadows. She
screamed as she felt the first hard tug. Reaching up, she grabbed the edge of
the top step and held on. Another hard tug jerked her, nearly ripping her away
from the relative safety of the stairs. Just when she thought her leg would be
torn off, the door above her burst open and she was blinded by a brilliant
flash of light shooting through the darkness.
“Be gone, shadow spawn!” a deep voice boomed, and Karlee felt the thick
shadows jerk franticly away. Scrambling up the steps, she saw the shining man
who had saved her and ran straight into his arms. A strong arm wrapped around
her and she found herself tucked against the man’s side.
From beside the stranger, Karlee could see the source of the brilliant
light. It radiated from a small stone he held in the palm of his hand. Beyond
him, she could also see the illuminated darkness left in the library basement.
The light allowed her to see the collection of books and the wreathing shadows
that had chased her. Misshapen human shadows were wriggling in the light as if
it was burning them. Staring at it, she felt fear rake over her, violently
sending her heart into her throat and blocking the scream she couldn’t seem to
conjure.
The man slammed the door, hiding the horrid sight from
Karlee and in one smooth motion, took her hand and turned towards the road. “I
have to get you out of here,” he said as he started to pull her away from the
library and down the sidewalk.
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