Great post. I think you're spot on about how before we have kids, we have a lot more time to waste prepping to write and making excuses or feeling guilty. When my kids were little (they're 7 and 12 now), I'd get up at 5 am to write, and even though I'd only get an hour, I knew I'd have to just jump right in. I didn't have time to worry about if what I was writing was any good. I just turned on the computer, or picked up the pen, and wrote (no coffee, tea, nothing, just got going). I have more time now, but I'm not always more productive.

glad I could be of help and hey I enjoyed the walk with Ben just as much!

we have to do it again soon!!!

xoxox

I love this photo. Sound like life is wild and exhausting and exhilarating! You are great!

I wonder if the hyper-efficiency gene comes from the fact that, for the most part, your time is not your own right now. And when you do get a some that is yours and yours alone, you just make the most of it....

i keep coming back to look at this picture. a few times it has brought tears to my eyes. i am so, so, so happy for you and Matty...

i love you, my friend...and i thank you for all the beautiful gifts you bring to our friendship.

and yes...you are totally a multi-tasking sexy mama.

xoxo

Such a beautiful photo to cherish.

yay for the superhero mama multi-tasking gene! i believe it that with all my heart.

The very best thing to happen to my writing was my kids. Not only did I begin to take my time seriously, I began to pay much closer attention to how I spent it. It's made all the difference, in all areas of my life.

It is so true, isn't it? Suddenly we become these super-power multi-tasking Mommy machines...because we have to be in order to get anything accomplished! *blink* It sounds like you are doing an absolutely amazing job of touching all in your life that needs to be touched right now. Long live the gene (and your special brand of SUPERHERO powers!!!!)

I love when I get moments like that! I feel like I can do a million things in just that hour. Even though sometimes all I want to do is nap myself! :)

This post really speaks to me. I've been talking about wanting to write for years. Finally, someone said to me, "To be a writer, you actually have to, you know, write." Creative work is work. You have to get into it and do it -- even if only for a few minutes everyday. So well said, Andrea. Again. Thanks.

You know what other gene I bet you now have? The making amazing snacks gene. All of my girlfriends who are moms now have it. They send me out of the house with cheese and crackers. They meet me at the train with apple slices. And they do this before their babies are on solid food!! Amazing. Moms are amazing, and one day, I'll get to join the team :)

And hooray for your continued blogging. I figure that would be something that could be a bit easier to give up, and us, your cyber fans, are so glad you haven't :)

Rock on.

i love it when i find a new post here...it is fascinating to be witness to your changing and growing as a momma. it makes me really excited as my day gets closer. thank you for your great honest sharing. cheers to getting little bits of your creativity back. yay!

I keep coming back to look at this picture of Matt and Ben, which is so lovely.

Just remember that when your "doing" needs to be "doing nothing but being still," that's okay too. I know you know.

I am sure you saw this but I immeditly thought of you

http://www.magpie-girl.com/

We do need more superheros and thanks to you we have them.

awww i am glad YOU got time. so important.

Great post, Andrea. You are doing GREAT!!!

um, I don't brush my teeth, shower or dress either, and I have no baby!!!

I have, however, discovered this year the power of the small daily act on my creative project. Taken daily, things get done in time.

Tortoise v. Hare I guess.

Love to you threee, Shelley

thanks for this!
j.

I know you may have heard this from a ton of people already, but as your little one gets bigger (even a few months makes a difference) your time for yourself will start to trickle back. Things do settle and a solid routine will get carved out of the craziness of the first couple of years. What is even more fun, is when they get big enough to start doing those very same things that you love to do. :)

I dubbed that amazing urge to create despite the here and now of parenting a baby 'The Amazing Maternal Counterforce'. Never have I been more productive than I was when my kids were babies and toddlers and I had to spend so many hours just sitting and nursing and staring at the sky. The equal and opposite reaction seems to be making and doing. I used that energy to start my own business, ignore sleep, and be a happier mom.

Hmmm... maybe kids are the answer to my chronic procrastination and inspiration-seeking habits.

Can't you hear the weird conversations now?
"Why did you decide to have children?"
"Because I wanted to get more done!"

;)

Thank you for this great reminder Andrea - exactly what I needed to hear, right now. I have no doubts that your creativity will continue to flourish with your enhanced-efficiency superpowers!
XO
Holly

i hear ya, sister, i hear ya!
xoxo

I know what you mean!

I have a single friend w/o children who takes an entire weekend to clean their house. (this is not the super deep cleaning either) I can get my respectable in 1/2hr and super clean in 1 hour.(:

Oh, you brought back memories of me getting my 8hrs of work done in about 2 hours when my son was in infant. Crazy times. I literally would rush to my job once my husband came home......work like a mad woman to be home for the next feeding.

I have loved reading about so many creative people from their blogs. I have started a new blog that features a new creative blog each day. I would love to feature yours someday.
http://TodaysCreativeBlog.blogspot.com

This is so encouraging. I'm not a mum, but I'm a student and I often find myself either sucking way too much or being far too busy to write. Thanks for the encouragement.

I hope your creative projects flourish too. :)

i tend to think that you are also at your most creative after you have babies. something about creating a new life gives you (mental) license to create other things. isn't it amazing how much comes clear when your focus shifts from yourself to this other little one? my girls have given me far more than they have taken. :)

It's not just for super-creative people either. After I had my son and went back to work I found that I was hyper=efficient, if only because I wanted to get home to be with my little guy. I never knew how much I could get done in such short amounts of time! Plus, I figured out what I NEEDED to do instead of all the things I just wanted to do. It amazed me and still does!