tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post7669320283622951125..comments2020-10-04T19:10:21.249-04:00Comments on When the Muse Strikes . . .: From Kindergarten Cop to College MomJulie Comptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-25605029579842302372010-12-07T23:55:27.433-05:002010-12-07T23:55:27.433-05:00Oh, honey! You're on your first, I'm on my...Oh, honey! You're on your first, I'm on my last. I can tell you, it doesn't get easier to say good-bye, but the adjustment does.<br /><br />Now that December is here, and winter break is only a couple of weeks away, I sit in my quiet house, writing--knowing that the chaos will descend, writing time will be done with earphones on, dinner will be for upwards of five rather than two or three.<br /><br />I love when they're home. I love when they're not. I'm not crazy about the transition! But I'm getting better at it.Terri-Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468004163467894720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-62685313545491375072010-12-06T12:29:01.349-05:002010-12-06T12:29:01.349-05:00Chris, well, sort of. She's on a trimester sys...Chris, well, sort of. She's on a trimester system, so she's already back home and won't go back until after the new year. But, unlike your daughter, she's always been a bit of a homebody, so we figured one of two things would happen -- she'd spread her wings at college, or call us saying she wanted to come home! LOL! Luckily, it was the former. She really seems to love it.<br />Jamie, thank you! And don't forget dogs! :-) You know we have a menagerie here at the Compton house.<br />Susan, what a nice comment! (Please, no genuflecting, though!) I once saw a fellow writer post on their FB status something about not sacrificing their children to the altar of writing, and it really struck a nerve with me. Ever since, I've tried to be very careful that I'm not doing that . . .Julie Comptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-28486802921375828742010-12-05T01:13:31.824-05:002010-12-05T01:13:31.824-05:00Julie ( It feels weird writing that since I usuall...Julie ( It feels weird writing that since I usually genuflect when I say your name),<br /><br />My daughter moved out three years ago for college. She is my best friend and was my only roommate for the last eighteen years. To read your thoughts on writing, parenting, and the need to not miss out on all those wonderful moments with your kids is greatly appreciated. <br /><br />I was aware you had children but knew of you more as lawyer turned novelist, professional achievements that leave me in awe.<br /><br />I am a baby writer, still crawling, not walking yet, and I fall into the habit of measuring the value of my time based on how much I accomplish or how many pages I work on. A call or visit from my daughter is one of the few things that pulls me out of this rigid mentality.<br /><br />After three years, there are still some visits from Kristen that result in me holding back tears. And I see her once a month! Proud, heck yeah, crazy proud of her confidence and perseverence !<br /><br />Anna has told me to remember balance and Jamie has told me to find the magic in each day. My daughter brings me both and your entry ties it all up nicely. <br /><br />With much respect, <br /><br />SusanSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14286245944657301413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-25076924283501156642010-12-04T21:57:42.393-05:002010-12-04T21:57:42.393-05:00Oh, Julie--
This is so beautiful--and so importan...Oh, Julie--<br /><br />This is so beautiful--and so important for novelists-in-training to read. Yes, writing is important--but life, love, children, cats, health, friends, these are all important, too.<br /><br />I watch you as you juggle the best elements of life and make a whole, balanced world where you are effective and available for your loved ones as well as your muse.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder.<br /><br />Hugs (and Happy Hanukkah!)<br />jmeJamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12463999427993104995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10372032.post-9025931139018984222010-12-04T20:53:33.370-05:002010-12-04T20:53:33.370-05:00So now you're, what, a semester in almost? Wha...So now you're, what, a semester in almost? What's that like? <br /><br />My older one is a senior and while she's very happy with her home life and her room and friends and family, she's had wanderlust since the summer between kindergarten and first grade, when she was furious that sleepaway camp for her age was three days, rather than week, like it was for everyone else.<br /><br />She's been to Europe twice and Washington DC a couple times, and she's in love with both of them, and resigned herself to an adulthood where much of the year is too cold to wear her beloved flip-flops. <br /><br />I'll miss her, and I'm sure we loaded her with our share of baggage, but she's a confident, capable young woman and we created the framework in which she could become that. That takes away a lot of the sting.<br /><br />I might have different thoughts next, August, though.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03663657563121214959noreply@blogger.com