From Pacifiers to Paragraphs: Writing in the Margins of Motherhood

Writing as a mom of two was something I never imagined I’d be doing. Now, as a mom of three, it’s an even greater challenge. Being a mom — as many of you would agree — is a full-time job. Adding writing into the mix brings its own complications.

Any author will tell you: the only way to get better at writing is to write — write any chance you get. That’s easier said than done when you’ve got littles climbing over you in your chair while you're trying to finish a sentence.

Some days, coffee is my greatest encouragement to keep going. I don’t want this to come across as ungrateful. I truly love my children and the decision to stay home with them. They are — and always will be — my first priority. But they also make it hard to get a full thought onto the page, especially when I write in the brief windows between snacks, snuggles, and sibling negotiations.

Most of my writing happens during nap time, reading time, or when my kids are happily entertained by aunts, uncles, or cousins. Other chances come when their dad takes them to the grocery store or hardware store — small adventures that become big gifts of time for me.

Writing as a parent has its blessings — especially as a children’s author. Most of my stories are inspired by real moments I’ve experienced as a mom. I try to write from my children’s point of view, and doing so reminds me how big their world feels, and how important it is to empathize with them.

As you can probably guess, I don’t get a lot of uninterrupted time to write. So when those moments come, I do my best to use them well — both for writing and editing. One piece of advice I’ve found helpful is to set your writing down and walk away from it for a while. Coming back with fresh eyes helps me catch mistakes and see things more clearly. It’s a self-editing skill I’m still growing in — and sometimes struggle with — but it’s part of the process.