Time Management, Or Lack Thereof

[alycewilson]

I am currently sitting in a coffeeshop, working on my wireless computer (when did it become passe to call a place an Internet cafe?). KFP is asleep in his stroller next to me. I am on borrowed time, working on Wild Violet. How did I get here?

Comments

[millysdaughter]

Popular common knowledge/urban legand vclaims that is exactly how Rawlings wrote Harry Potter -- sitting on a computer at the local coffeeshop/computer joint with baby in stroller beside her!
Just think what you will accomplish!!!

[alycewilson]

Some days it's the only way to balance his own needs with my own.

Now, strangely enough, I've done this before, checking e-mail and such from my phone in a park. He always woke up calmly and cheerfully. When he woke up and saw he was in the coffee shop, he rebelled, saying, "No!" He was inconsolable until I packed up the computer and high-tailed it out of there. I gave him his little plush panda to console him, but nothing worked. People were sympathetic, though. One of the ladies in there was making sympathetic noises as I tried to put my plate in the dish bin: KFP trailing after me, holding my hand and stumbling sleepily whilst crying.

You really have to be determined to get anything done when you've got a little one!

[millysdaughter]

Very true -- I do remember those days quite well, even though my wee ones are long since grown...

[alycewilson]

When I'm at home, I try to give him frequent hugs and pause to read to him or play with him a while. Maybe he just didn't like the idea of being strapped into a stroller while I had my computer out, because he figured I'd be ignoring him.

[millysdaughter]

Only my youngest kidlet had to compete with the computer for attention.

[alycewilson]

"Compete" is probably too strong a word. KFP's needs take precedence, which is why it takes four times as long to get anything done!

[millysdaughter]

Distract might be a better word, indeed.
I am actually glad the internet as we know it did not exist back in those days.

[alycewilson]

Times sure have changed!