Summer + Kids = Writer's Nightmare

Summer break is a time that many families look forward to. The kids are out of school, the weather is nice, and there are countless opportunities for “fun.” However, for those who need to focus on writing, like me, the summer can be challenging. Balancing the demands of parenting with the need for quiet, uninterrupted time to write can be difficult, but not impossible. At least, this is what I’m going to tell myself for the next 2.5 months.
Challenges of Writing During Summer Break

1. Constant Interruptions: My youngest daughter has separation anxiety, which includes when my attention is not on her. Kids are naturally curious and always want to share their latest discovery or need assistance with something, like every other child on the planet, but this kid needs me and only me to do things for her. Not to mention the fighting between all three of my kids.
2. Increased Responsibilities: With children at home all day, the responsibilities of meals, activities, and entertainment fall more heavily on me, as I am the default parent. This can leave little time and, mostly, energy for writing.
3. Lack of Routine: During the school year, children have a set schedule that often aligns with my writing hours. Summer break says “F you” to that, making it hard to establish a regular writing schedule.
4. Guilt and Frustration: Parents in general might feel guilty for needing time alone to work, or frustrated when they can't find the time or space to concentrate. This emotional tension can make writing even more challenging. Honestly, this is probably my biggest issue.

Strategies for Successful Writing
Despite these challenges, there are several strategies that can help you carve out productive writing time during summer break:
1. Establish a Summer Routine

• Set Specific Writing Hours: Designate specific times of the day for writing. Early mornings or late evenings, when the kids are asleep, can be particularly effective. If you’re not accustomed to this, I dare you to try it out. It’s like exercising; it takes a few weeks for your mind and body to get used to a routine.
• Create a Family Schedule: Incorporate your writing time into the family schedule so everyone is aware and can respect that time. This will be particularly difficult, but I’m going to sit down and do this one. Not a hard schedule. Just one that says “quiet time” for the kids and “writing time for mommy.”

2. Involve the Kids

• Activity Time: Plan activities that can keep the kids engaged and entertained for a set amount of time while you write. I realized early on as a parent, as I’m sure most of you have as well, that the more often they are out of the house, the less they are bored when they are inside stuck at home.
• Writing Together: “Writing Together.” My youngest has an obsession with doing Math sheets, so I bought her a small practice book for the summer that I can tear pages out or have her work on while I’m writing.

3. Seek Support

• Coordinate with Other Parents: Arrange playdates or kid swaps with other parents to give each other some child-free time. As an introvert, I will have to demonstrate a lot of courage to accomplish this one.
• Hire Help: If possible, consider hiring a babysitter or enrolling the kids in summer camps for a few hours each week. I have a 16-year-old stepson who is really good with his younger siblings. I hired him to entertain the kids in the pool, on Nintendo, or riding bikes a couple times a week for a few hours.

4. Be Flexible and Forgiving

• Adjust Expectations: Understand that your word count might not be as high during the summer, and that's okay! Lowering your goals isn’t a bad thing, it’s just being realistic.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Any progress is still progress. Celebrate the small achievements to stay motivated. 25 words? Cheers!