Comments on Jill Monroe's Blog - Off The Keyboard: Writing With Children

I let mine run wild in the backyard. They act as ...

2009-06-08T20:27:58.394-07:00

I let mine run wild in the backyard. They act as though they've been raised by wolves sometimes. : )

I also take a notebook with me to the park, pool, etc, and transfer to my computer at night.

Our local library has a summer reading program for...

2009-05-31T06:28:05.710-07:00

Our local library has a summer reading program for kids of all ages. If yours has one, it's a great place for them to read and learn while you write (if you can write in a library or if your library allows drop-offs).

Good luck writing this summer. I'm pulling for you. =o)

Actually, Louisa, you can do that with kids. Prob...

2009-05-28T11:17:35.444-07:00

Actually, Louisa, you can do that with kids. Problem is, they've learned how to bang on doors. It's totally annoying.

Other ideas? Hmmmm, I suppose you're one of those "good moms" who won't drug their kids. Sheesh, you make things so hard on yourself.

I vote for the bribery angle. New toys should be good for a couple hours. There's also summer camps. There's tons of them in my town that run week long 9-12, or better, 9-3.

This is why I'm glad I have dogs. When they get an...

2009-05-28T10:21:29.140-07:00

This is why I'm glad I have dogs. When they get annoying, I can just shut them outside in our fenced in backyard. Guess you can't do that with your kids?

Does keeping them up late actually work? No matte...

2009-05-28T08:04:04.143-07:00

Does keeping them up late actually work? No matter how late my son goes to bed, he's up at 6:30 every morning. It's like clockwork.

How about bribes? lol

what if you devised some type of reward system bas...

2009-05-27T16:59:56.613-07:00

what if you devised some type of reward system based on how much you got done - rewarding both yourself and the kids. For instance, you could give them a list of quiet things which are acceptable to you to spend a few hours amongst themselves (like the suggestions above) and reward them for doing these things without needing interference from you.

Who knows, maybe they'd step up to do things like clean their rooms, wash dishes, whatever to give you more time to work... if doing so made it so that I got a day out with mom or an ice cream sundae after a good swim, I'd be all for that!

*Have a veg day. Rent movies with a theme and let...

2009-05-27T13:13:32.100-07:00

*Have a veg day. Rent movies with a theme and let the heathens chill out, eat stuff that is entirely unsuitable, and watch movies until their wee eyes cross.
*Have them read a book and tell them you'll ask questions about it later. Just light silly stuff.
*I'm not sure of your kids' ages, but you could go the whole drawing paper/crayons/markers/colored pencils route. Tell them to be creative and the best picture from each of them graces the fridge. They'll take extra time.
Just a few ideas.
Grins*