Tuesdays in Twinland: Writing and Twins

The age old question for all writers is, “How on earth do I find time to write?” Well, I’ve mentioned more than once when I write–nap time. The twins take about a three hour nap every afternoon, which leaves me with a decent chunk of time to accomplish things.

The problem I’m running into more and more as they get older and more busy is exhaustion. Not just physical exhaustion, although that is present and real. Mental exhaustion. I’m just mentally and emotionally drained all the time. Not because I don’t love my kids. But because being their mom just takes a lot of energy these days.

So while the time for writing is blocked out, the ability to actually write–to start typing and have the words flow, and characters emerge, and a story with a plot emerge–isn’t always there.

I say a lot that I feel “creatively dead.” I’m just tired. I don’t know what to write. I don’t know how to write. I can’t find the energy to write. It’s not that I don’t love it–I do. When I get an idea, I get to work and it’s awesome. But finding the ideas is hard. My brain is so overtaxed by daily life, it goes to sleep when it needs to come up with brilliant ideas to write.

I know there is a time and a season for everything, and one day my kids will be grown and I’ll have more energy to create. Writing is a career path for me, and so I’m okay with taking things more slow right now. It’s not forever. Enjoying my kids is the most important thing.

But seriously, other moms of tiny kids…how do you keep your creativity alive when you are just so darn tired? Because while I can accept and be okay with the fact that writing is a little slower for me at this time of life, it’d be great if I could have my cake and eat it too.

TWIN MOM TIP: When you have those days where you are just exhausted–mentally, emotionally, physically–try to remember that this phase of life won’t last forever. And then go eat a chocolate bar. You deserve it.