This week is spring break. I hate to admit it, but I’m going to, I don’t like it when my kids are out of school. It really messes up my entire schedule. I try my best to do all my writing when they’re gone. It makes everything easier. They get my undivided attention when they’re home and I get six hours of uninterrupted writing time everyday. It’s a great compromise for us.

We’re on day three of spring break and I’m already dreading summer. Dreading it. For those that don’t know my living situation, I live with a friend of mine, who has three kids of her own. Between my two and her three, we have five kids running amuck in this house between the ages of seven and twelve.

Can you say freaking noisy?

I’m in the middle of writing my second MMA book that is contracted. This actually puts a new stress on me. Hell, a new worry. I haven’t written a word since all the kidlets got out of school. Yes, I know it’s only been three days, but it’s got me stressed out. They get out of school in eight weeks for TEN weeks. TEN WEEKS.

I sat them all down yesterday to try and explain things to them. Why things will be different this summer than it was last summer. But they’re kids, I don’t think they grasped the importance of just watching a movie for a couple of hours instead screaming. (Man, when all five of them are together they do that ALL. DAY. LONG.)

When it's just my two, I really don't have an issue, but when they have friends to play with it's a whole different ballgame. The noise level reaches maddening, and its been at maddening all week.

I wish I could toss their little butts outside but that’s not an option. We live on the intersection of two busy streets with no fenced yard. So going outside is counterproductive even when I’m out there with them. I’m more focused on where they are in the yard, keeping count that I see all five of them at the same time, than I am on my laptop.

So the question of the day: Writers with large families. How in the hell do you do it?

Thanks for letting me vent.

Esme