Parenting, writing, and becoming who we are

"Also, being a parent, while wonderful in many ways, has not been conducive to writing for me. Other than that, I imagine I'm closer to death than ever before, and I better get my book done." - Debbie Anderson

Recently, I spent a Saturday afternoon that I'd hoped to spend writing learning a new card game from my 8-year-old. She needed that kind of focused attention from me that day (and many days), so I did what was called for, and admittedly had some fun. Writing, however, did not happen.

I also celebrated a birthday recently, an inevitable reminder that I don't have an eternity in which to meet my goals.

I have a commitment to my daughter, not just to feed, clothe, and shelter her, but to connect with her regularly. I sometimes think she wants more of that than the average kid. That said, I think she sometimes experiences me as more distracted and less available than the average mom. She has said to me during my preoccupied times, "Sometimes even though I'm with you, I miss you." Catching me in an episode of emotional and intellectual absence.

I know what it means to me to commit to my daughter, and also to the clients I work with. But what does it mean to commit to one's writing?

Last winter and spring, I wrote often. I created and shared blog posts, worked on a novel daily, journaled, created drafts of short fiction and poetry.

But in the latter part of the year, I fell off  the writing wagon. A powerful inertia took the place of my writing practice. I felt like I was suffering from not just writer's block, but writer's paralysis.

But it's a new year, and I'm putting my toes in the writing water again by asking myself some basic questions about what makes writing meaningful for me. Trying to carve out writing time with renewed commitment. And seeing if I still remember how to write a blog post.

What about you? What meaningful activity or practice are you trying to recover or sustain this year? What gets in your way, and which of those impediments can be solved?

May 2016 be a year for becoming more fully who we are.