We all need a break now and then.

So I was chatting with my husband one night as I poured over pages that needed a pass over, and he was just getting home from work. As he declared he was going to spend another night watching Netflix I told him he was wasting his time. Why? I’d LOVE to have time to read a book on a nightly basis, and he squander’s it. I don’t mean this in a bad way, I’d likely spend sometime watching Netflix too. In fact, Sunday’s at 8pm during prime time season is my “Shut up and let me watch TV” time (I may be a little Once Upon a Time addicted). So why was I telling my husband he was being silly in his choices?

I work a 16 hour day, 6 days a week, and am on call 5 nights a week.

But how is this you say? One word: motherhood. I love being a Mom, I love being a writer, but these two things are hard to combine, especially when your 1.5 year old LOVES buttons. Keyboards? It’s heaven for his button mashing addiction. So from the time we get up until nap time it’s all errand running, chores, playing, reading, dancing, lunch making, ect. I get 2-3 hours of work time where I try not to squander any of it. Once he’s up, it’s repeat the morning only it’s supper, then bedtime routine. And then I have about 4 hours to work before it’s time to get some sleep or I’ll be a zombie. Let’s not forget that while he’s a great sleeper, sometimes he does get up, hence the “on call” aspect.

Phew!

So wait, how does this work that it’s only 6?

Well, I get one day a weekend ALL TO MYSELF (insert evil laugh). I run away from home with my laptop and coffee card, sometimes meeting other writers, often doing things on my own. Sometimes I sneak an extra family day, but not usually. I like to think it’s beneficial for my husband and son to have father/son bonding time. ;)

But so I/we don’t get burned we make sure to also have one family day a weekend. We may go out and do something super fun, or we may do nothing more than kick around the neighborhood. But it’s important for my sanity to have that, to have fun without all the responsibility and to let my creative side rest.

Do you and your family do something? How many hours a day do you find you work balancing writing with other responsibilities?