Motherhood and Writing: A Time to Relax, Refocus and Re-Energize

Isn’t this picture lovely?  This incredible view was the perfect backdrop as my reading research kept me in a constant fog-like state.  Not because of boredom, mind you, but because I needed the calm of the ocean to keep my mind from running off with all the new details I’ve discovered for my manuscript.  

I have to admit, I didn’t write a word while on vacation.  Nor did I want to.  I really needed a chance to relax, refocus and re-energize.  The summer months have been busier since the children are on vacation, and while I love having my children around, I’ve found myself resentful at times since my writing has suffered.

Even though I know I shouldn’t make that as an excuse… after all…I keep thinking, if I really wanted to write, I’d make time to do it.  And for the most part, I do.  I write late at night when the kiddies are fast asleep.  But sometimes, I’d like to be able to write, well…whenever I felt like it.  

And I know I sound selfish.  Believe me, I think I’m the luckiest person that I can stay at home with the children–I wouldn’t change that for the world.  I don’t need the designer clothes, the fancy cars, the expensive wines and dinners.  Yeah, it would be nice every once-in-a-while, but not something I have to have.  However, the need to exert my independence, my identity–so I’m not only a mother, a wife, a nurturer–is so strong, I need to get away from it all, so I can concentrate on my dreams.  Don’t you sometimes feel it?  Or am I the only one?  

This past week was just what I needed, food for my soul.  My husband took the kids to the beach and made sure I had plenty of alone time so I could relax and focus on my work.  Thank you so much, Sweetie.  Now I’m all re-energized, I can’t wait to start writing.  

But first, there’s that laundry pile….