Crazy Work At Home Dog Mom Life Days

The majority of my writing gets done on the overnight. It's quiet. The kids are sleeping. Lisa is sleeping. Most of the world is sleeping. Minimal distractions. This has been going on for over 3 years. Work that doesn't require quiet time like posting content, baking biscuits, sewing blankets, social media stuff and tending to emails is done during the day. However, writing, that's a whole other ballgame.

I. Need. Quiet.

Lisa, on the other hand, works first shift. She gets up at 3:45 a.m. Her workday starts at 6. Most days, she leaves work at 2:30 in the afternoon. Sometimes later. On the way home she will pick up groceries. Once or twice a week, she restocks our biscuit displays and delivers and ship biscuits to our local animal shelters.

By the time she gets home, we eat dinner, feed the kids, clean up, etc, it's time for me to squeeze in a 1 hour nap to enhance my productivity during the overnight hours.

For us, it works regardless of how crazy it may appear to those around us. I think about all the parents of human kids who revolve their schedules around their kids. Some choose to have opposite work schedules to avoid childcare costs. Others adapt according to what works and what doesn't.

We're all kind of in the same boat.

While me staying up on the overnight is ideal and works for the both of us and our family, sometimes it downright sucks. My need for minimal distractions to write articles for work and blog posts, at times, backfires. Minimal distractions often leads to overthinking. Reflecting back on things I would much rather not think about at the present time.

And, if we watch and episode or two of Criminal Minds earlier in the evening, total paranoia. 

Let's be honest, most of the world is asleep on the overnight. It's quiet. The optimal breeding ground for multiple articles and blog columns.

But...

On the flips side, I stand outside, on the front porch, inhaling the overnight air and I'm unable to fully relax. The what ifs start circulating through my brain.

At times, it can get very dark.

Once I'm inside, I hear every every single noise. I can personally vouch that yes, there are things that go bump in the night.

During the cold weather months, I won't use the space heater in the office. It drowns out the noises that are pertinent to my "high alert" abilities. And, despite the urges, I try not to listen to music using my earbuds. I don't like not being able to hear what's going on around me or within our home.

That is a challenge all in its own.

I sit in my quiet reverie. The silence I crave and need is often my own worst enemy. It's a struggle I deal with every single night.

When writer's block creeps in and composing a sentence is 'bout near impossible, I have to occupy my brain with other stuff. Often times, I'll do quiet housework, pace, bake, play the only two games I like on Facebook or organize my desk.

And I miss my kids. I know they're in the next room sleeping, but still. 

By the time 3:45 a.m. rolls around, I'm ready. Lisa's breakfast and lunch are made. Fresh coffee is brewing. I have another human to talk to. The kids get up for outside time and breakfast. I crawl under the blankets while Lisa sits on the bed eating her breakfast. All 3 kids sitting patiently for a nibble.

I sleep for a few hours.

Get up.

Start my crazy work at home dog Mom life day all over again...