Writing with Children

My children are 12 and 6.

My 12-year-old can pretty much do things on his own, but my youngest has a famous "Look at this, mom!" line that interrupts whatever I'm working on writing. It never fails. But when I put the computer down, she doesn't want anything to do with me.

It's a lot like talking on the phone for some parents...you answer that phone and 12 kids show up, each with a question. I do try to write after bedtime, but I end up falling asleep with the laptop still open. Then I'll wake up at 3 a.m. and write a bit more. (And I wonder why I'm always tired!)

We have two laptops in the house. One day my daughter was sitting next to me on the couch while I wrote and she played her games. I began talking to her, and she said to me, "Look mom! We're both writing books, only mine is three pages." My daughter showed me the program and it was true... she found a game where she could make a short book.

I continued to talk to her about it when finally her hand shot up and said, "Mommy, it's quiet time. We have work to do!" Well, she told me!

Just wanted to take the time to congratulate our Editor, Andre Salles, on becoming an uncle! Since my blog was about kids this week, I thought it appropriate to give him some good advice....

1. If the parents start sniffing the baby, make sure you are the first to yell, "Not it!" Last one to say that gets stuck changing the diaper.     
2. If the baby is somewhat smiling and turning bright red in the face, quickly begin a game of hot potato, pass the baby to the next in line and leave quickly.
3. If one of the parents tell you that your niece/nephew has been working on a gift for you all day, it isn't a present that you want.
4. Save your money for the first two or three years at holidays... just bring a cardboard box. They'll be more interested in that than the $40 present you were considering.
5. Babies only throw up on you if you are wearing nice clothes or headed somewhere right after you are visiting the precious little one. Always have a back-up outfit handy.
6. Never throw a baby in the air after they just finished eating, and make sure your mouth is closed. Unless, of course, you like the taste of formula. Good Luck!