Posted on by Writer of Words, etc

When the writing sabbatical merges with family time

I have been childless, but not dogless, since Friday.

Today I’m heading back home to re-join the family. But probably not until later this afternoon…

The whole time I was staying at my mom’s I debated about going shopping. I was going to get a few things from the Bulk Barn, check for pants and hoodies for my son, look at winter boots and maybe buy some for the girl child, but I never left the house. Except to coax the puppy out for a walk, that is…

It was like a mini vacation. 🙂

But today I’m heading back to the grind. I’ll probably miss all the writing I was doing at mom’s, but that’s ok, I can divide my time this way quite well. It suits me. Write less while in my own home, write more while away at my mom’s…

It works. 🙂

I know this mentality comes from a place of privilege. I am fortunate to be in this place of privilege. I have earned this place. I have worked long and hard for many years and paid off my student loans, had my own apartment, my own car, and then spent many years dealing with many health, home and familial challenges after the babies were born that I am finally in a position to put my own aspirations in the forefront.

Like my writing. I feel like I’m at least ten years behind…

My time has finally come.

I still belong to a family unit. I like belonging to a family unit. Yet these periodic sabbaticals allow me to do both – be a member of a family with alpha tendencies, and be an individual with personal aspirations, and time to pursue them.

Now, make no mistake, I don’t just abandon them when I pack up the car to travel to my sabbatical home-away-from-home. The family, a spouse and two teens, they’re all perfectly capable of managing without me, and do.

But I’m not some demented menace. I leave them with drawers and closets full of clean laundry, and I stuff the fridge with food. They don’t have to coordinate the puppy’s needs, which is always more difficult during crappy weather days, some of which happened this weekend. Because puppy travels with me (and gets pawned off on grandma, which is just the way she likes it). 😍

So anyway, my mom started a thing with the pooch, giving him a piece of her morning toast. Puppy discovered quickly that people food is yummy, and literally attacks my mom when he knows it’s coffee and toast time…😄

You know grandmas… they can’t help themselves. 😉

I told her to at least make him earn it.

“Tell him to sit, stay, and look,” I told her. “Preferably when he’s on the floor, not on top of you.” 🙃

They’re “practicing”. 😃

So, off I go to get this Monday started. See you in the comments.

19 Replies to “When the writing sabbatical merges with family time”

  9. We all need that break, it’s not as if you packed the car up and “went to the corner store” never to return. Moms are people and writing is important. Never feel bad for stepping out to take care of yourself. I’m glad you had a break and that you were writing.

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