I’m happy to share that my article, "Good Day Sunshine" is in this month’s Common Ground magazine. It's about celebrating the Winter Solstice and was a fun topic to research and write about.

When I was working on it though, the fates seemed to be playing with me.

I summarize with the following “P” words: 

Procrastination- I was determined to not do this. I wanted to get it done early. My plan, another “P” word, was to submit it to the editor an impressive week ahead of the due date since I already had some of the interviews completed. Thankfully, I started early because:

Pinkeye -- took hold of our family two weeks before the article was due. That meant laundry, laundry and more laundry to try to avoid its spread, though spread it did. It also meant both boys were home from school, but on different days as my eldest got it first, then my youngest. So the precious time I had planned to write was suddenly lost. Then of course, I caught it as well!

Potty Training -- my youngest decided he was suddenly ready to enter the world of big boy underwear. No more diapers, only colorful briefs with fire trucks or comic heroes would do. We praised him, of course, and it worked out since he was home sick and we could run to the potty at any time. But did I mention laundry? I think we’re up to twelve loads (no joke) by this time.  Other "P" words apply under this topic as well, but I won’t go there.

Panic -- After being home with at least one sick child for a seemingly endless stretch of days, I sat down at the computer one night at ten-thirty, my official muse time. No sooner had my fingers hit the keyboard to put the finishing touches on the article, when my youngest cried out in pain, “Mama, my ear hurts!” Of course he wanted me to be with him, and I wanted to be there. So there I lay with him in bed, and ultimately slept, asking the gods to help me get my article done the next day.

Publication -- in the end I did get it done. Not a week early as I’d planned, but on the contracted date nonetheless. Having a plan to finish early was probably the best thing I could have done. 

It was certainly humbling to not have time I could count on, and I’m grateful for my husband who helped during evenings and weekends so I could escape. But having a challenging time to create the piece makes the final product that much more dear. 

Analogy to parenting and childbirth anyone?

By Kristy Lund

Labels: article deadlines, Kristy Lund, pinkeye, potty training, sick kids

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# posted by Writing Mamas Salon @ 12:01 AM