Wednesday, April 18, 2012

P is for Priorities and Procrastination



I have only ten chapters to go on the first draft of my current WIP.  I would love to jump into it today and write until it's done, even if it means staying up all night and writing into tomorrow.

But I have priorities.  I've been procrastinating on doing the laundry.  My little guy and I are wearing our last clean pair of pants.  Not good.

And my husband is out of town, which is definitely stressing out my preschooler.  The solution is to do a cookie factory - three days of making one kind of cookie each day for his dad.   The challenge is to also make them vegan, which means a trip to the grocery store and a little bit of research.

The marathon of cookie making was my idea - I thought it would keep him busy and happy - he loves to measure and dump ingredients and stir the dough with a spoon.  Now I will have a ton of extra dishes every day and extra cleaning to do because we are messy bakers. 

So I am setting aside my WIP aside for my little guy, so he can feel happy waiting for his dad to come home.  I have no doubt it's the right thing to do. 

Sometimes when I get this close to finishing a writing project, I get overwhelmed and opt to clean or organize or cook or do anything instead of writing.  Today is definitely not procrastination.  I really wish I could find a few extra hours today for my WIP. 

Hopefully I can get caught up reading all your posts and responding to comments tonight between loads of laundry.  Thanks again for all your great comments this month and for all the new followers.


*     *     *     *     *     *


This post is part of the 2012 A to Z Challenge.

39 comments:

  1. The cookie project is such a great idea. I know what you mean about needing more hours in the day, but it appears to me that you have your priorities in order!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently the batter was good (no eggs) - he kept licking the spoon ... and the bowl.

      Delete
  2. I'm a terrible procrastinator some days. But I think you've got your priorities right on this one. The little guy needs some attention...and who doesn't like homemade cookies?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He loves his dad so much, and it's the third week he's been gone in two months. Little guy is a mess. Baking cookies helped for sure. Today we make oatmeal cookies.

      Delete
  3. I hear ya!

    Sometimes it feels like I'm the worst procrastinator ever, but it's also usually when I'm also feeling overwhelmed with all the stuff life's throwing at me, lol!

    But Like L.G. said -- you may not be doing everything you want to do, but you're doing the things that are the most important!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No regrets for yesterday. Except maybe I shouldn't have given him that marshmallow - he was a little spazzy after that.

      Delete
  4. Sometimes it's tough to prioritize, especially when the finish line is in sight! But it sounds like you made the right call. Good luck with the rest of it!

    J.W.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do exactly the same thing...cookies do sound good though! Amanda

    Amanda - Realityarts-Creativity
    Art Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's tough balancing family and writing (or other work).

      Delete
  6. I love the cookie project, I hope you and your little one enjoy it. And, congratulations on being so close to completion with your first draft, that is a very exciting feeling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. The cookie project sounds like the perfect thing. Makes the little guy move all the missing into making something special for Dad.

    Tonja, I do procrastinate and prioritize. Sometimes it's not procrastination but the need of thinking time. Doing chores-feeding the Great Danes, loving on them and walking them, or the horses or house/yardwork all help me think. It also gives me a measure of peace.

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we need those quiet times - I like working in the garden when I'm stuck on my story - or going for a walk. Housework doesn't have the same effect for me.

      Delete
  8. Well, am sure your attention on your child is well spent!

    As long as we make the most of each day - time wasn't wasted.

    Hope you two are having fun - and daddy comes home soon!

    When the time is right, I know you will find the time to complete your draft.

    Looking forward to reading it!

    Have a purposeful filled day!

    http://bettyalark.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are such an awesome mom! It's hard to leave that ms when it's really calling your name, to do the things that really need to be done. But you're even going above and beyond! You rock. A lot.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your son will remember you took the time for him and appreciate it. And you'll have a lot of cookies to eat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cookies were good. We used maple syrup instead of eggs to bind them. Yummy. I did all sorts of fun stuff with my first child whose dad worked too much - she doesn't remember any of it. Oh, well.

      Delete
  11. Awww a topic close to my heart......i am the biggest procrastinator....and have trouble setting priorities....I can tinker around all day and get absolutely nothing done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm miserable when I don't get something done. My husband is the opposite at home (but not at work).

      Delete
  12. Argh - bloomin blogger losing comments. Breathe... and here it is again... I remember this sense from finishing my first WIP - I ended up doing the work in the hours between 6am and 8am as this was the only time I couldn't possibly procrastinate in!
    Best of luck
    Laura x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blogger has been a little quirky lately. I write on mornings when my little guy is at preschool - I had to give up one morning to a headache and another to manage the laundry disaster. I'll have the weekend though.

      Delete
  13. Ha, when I get close to finishing a WIP I also procrastinate. lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the worst for me when I have something big to edit.

      Delete
  14. Tonja, be sure to stop by tomorrow - I have a surprise for you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a good mom. My grandnephews live with us and sometimes miss their mother or father quite badly (there mother lives here too... sigh... but we spend a lot of time watching them) and it can be really heartbreaking to see them so distraught.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When they're little they can't express what they are feeling either, so it makes it so much worse.

      Delete
  16. I think you've got good reasons for postponing work on the WIP for the time being :) Vegan cookies would certainly be a challenge! then again, any cookies are a challenge for me. haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We just got a cookbook that has some great recipes. I cheated a little and used regular margarine so I wouldn't have to go shopping. So they were only semi-vegan. We'll live.

      Delete
  17. I've been procrastinating for awhile, so we need to kick each other into gear. I'll probably clean the house today, but I WILL sit down and write. I'll check back with you to see how it's going. Running sprints tonight if you care to join our crazy crew. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had a homework emergency last night, so I didn't write a word - didn't even get to check on blog comments. I can't wait for summer. I will be marathoning this weekend. :)

      Delete
  18. I think the A to Z frenzy has compromised priorities for some bloggers... it's been hectic... but awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cookies definately sound like a great idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today we do sand table first, cookies later.

      Delete
  20. I have a terrible time procrastinating with my writing. I always feel like other stuff should get done first - even the laundry! So yay for you putting off the laundry to get writing done. And when's the last time I baked with my kids? It's messy but so much fun.

    I'm a visiting A-Z blogger and new follower.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The little ones should always be priorities, of course, but maybe if you redefined a "block of time" to include fifteen or thirty minutes, you could still add a few words each day.

    But who am I to offer advice? I'm the biggest procrastinator in town. :D

    Patricia

    ReplyDelete