Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Writing: no matter the age

In the summer our four kids need to write for fifteen minutes each weekday.  They can write about whatever they want.  During quarantine the two of elementary school age need to write for ten minutes each day, and then review with an adult for five minutes.

This is hard work.  For everyone.

There's a good bit of push back: 

I don't want to.
I don't know what to write about.
This takes so long.
It's fine.  I don't want to go over it with you.
Why are you saying it's bad?  It's bad!
Can you not make me do it over?
Can you give me some topics?
No, I don't like those topics.
I have nothing to write about.
I want to go play.  Can't I just go play?
I hate this.
And then you're going to say I have to go outside.  I have no free time!
Then I still have to do my chore.  I have no free time!
This is boring.

Yesterday morning I plopped myself down on the couch early while the house was quiet and I wrote.  Even with only five hours of sleep, I felt happy for so much of the day.  Today I intended to do the same thing.

I woke up and journaled.   Then Hannah wanted to show me a card trick.  Three times.  I needed breakfast.  I needed a walk.  I needed to clean last night's pyrex that was still in the sink.  I needed a little snack.  At 11:30am I finally got back to the couch (o the discipline to plop on the couch!  not even trying to get myself to sit at a desk!) and opened my computer.  Sebastian, age fourteen, sat down.  He wanted to chat.  It's hard for me to pass up an opportunity to chat with one of the kids.

I opened the computer again.  Got the blank space.

I have nothing to write about.
I don't know what to write.
What do I write about?
Is there anything worth writing about?
Maybe I should go clean the basement.
Maybe I should offer to play ping pong with one of the kids.
I shouldn't be on the computer so much.
When am I going to review those resumes?
I need a topic.
What's a good topic?

I am my children.  Any topic is fine.  Just write.  Tree trunks.  Apologies.  Getting started.


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