How my kids HELP my writing productivity

This blog post is not a joke.  Seriously.  I’m going to explain the ways my children actually help me with my writing endeavors.

Sure, I could write about all of the ways my children hinder the process – my youngest daughter is literally sitting on my lap as I type – but I don’t really need to tell you that, do I? It’s common knowledge that even one child takes up a lot of time.  And I have six.  Free time is a thing of my past.

My view while typing today. 

I have a shocking revelation, however, that I wish to share now – my children have actually helped me with my writing.  It’s true.  Here’s how:

They have taught me (and are teaching me daily) about patience.

And let me tell you, writing a book takes a lot of patience. My biggest teacher of patience by far has been parenting.  I’ve found that the wearisome moments of putting a toddler back to bed after she’s gotten out for the ninth time, or watching my kindergartner spend ten minutes trying to tie one shoe when we have a school bus to catch, or repeating myself twenty times before I am HEARD by one of my children, only help me to persevere the hard writing moments.  Writing a book isn’t something you do in a day, or even in a month (unless you are one of my writing buddies who wins NANOWRIMO every year and you are a writing superhero).  It’s taken me over a year each time.  It surely takes a lot of patience, returning time and time again to a project that you know will take a lot of work and a lot of time to finish.   But thanks to my kids – I’m getting better with patience every day.

They inspire me.

I write my best when I am happy.  I just do.  I know many writers who are the opposite and plug into negative emotions and turn it into amazing art.  I just feel my most inspired on my good days – and it’s mushy, I know . . . perhaps a little corny as well . . . but nothing sparks the creative impulse in me like the heart-swelling pride I get from being a mother.  Fellow parents reading this understand exactly this pride and love that is unlike anything else. That big, crazy love that comes with having children really inspires me to write.

They motivate me to be my best.

Having children has given me a more profound reason to succeed than ever before – they are my audience.  They are watching what I do and who I am.  I’m trying my best to teach them the value of hard work.  In my parenting, in my writing – I believe the harder I work, the greater the reward – and I want them to learn these lessons from me, so that they can be motivated to work hard in the pursuance of their own goals.  I've told them that as a child I hoped to grow up and write books, and see them in print. They are watching me do this now and I hope in turn they are getting the confidence to chase their own dreams.

Oh yes, I did start writing this blog at a McDonald's today. No shame.

I haven’t written a blog post in a while.  It was one of my kids who gave me the idea to write this.   Last week my third book was released.  My oldest daughter, Faith, asked me “Mom, if you didn’t have us kids, how many books do you think you’d have written by now? More than three?”  I thought about it, and told her, “You know, Faith, maybe none. You guys honestly help me to write. You inspire me.”  I'm not sure she believed me, but that’s the truth.  It's proven in this blog post.  I hadn't planned to post a blog in a while, and because of her, here I am . . .

Until next time . . .