So, the general consensus to my news that I've published my first novel is "When do you find the time?" I'm not sure if you ever saw the movie "How Does She Do It" with Sarah Jessica Parker in which a fast-track executive who also happens to be a wife and mother gives a behind the scenes view into the working mom's world. The movie's opening scene has Parker buying a pie from the local store and then roughing it up a bit to look homemade before delivering it to her child's school for the bake sale. It it weren't for my baker-husband, I am sure this would've been me at some point.

The main thrust of the movie is that she really couldn't do it all - things started to fall apart the more she tried to keep all the balls in the air. Similarly, I can't do it all, either. With an active family, a busy and stressful job, and a time-consuming hobby, things do fall apart for me, too.

This morning I had a 7 am meeting. I knew all about it when I left work on Friday but over the weekend, I forgot. I did my normal Monday morning routine which involves helping my husband get 4 kids out the door, letting the housecleaner in and trying to stay out of her way, mentally preparing for a new week, exercising, and getting ready. I completely blew it this morning. Unfortunately, it set the tone for the day, and I never really felt like I caught up.

I've learned from past episodes like this one that it is a warning to me. When things start falling off my plate, I am overwhelmed, overbooked, and overcommitted. I can push through it for awhile, but nothing really gets settled until I reprioritize.

So, with a new novel to promote, a job that is still demanding, and kids and a husband who still enjoy spending time with me (even when I'm distracted and stressed), I find myself wrinkling my brow in response to the question. Truth is, I'm not sure when I find the time. It just seems to happen in fits and spurts. That's how I wrote my first novel - in snatches of time between diapers and homework. I suspect that it will continue to be my method.