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As a writing mom my work hours can vary wildly depending on a deadline or a family mini-crisis. Despite that though, most times I try to keep to one of two schedules, the summer writing schedule or the school writing schedule.

Let me explain by example. The long days of summer are coming to an end. The days of camping and writing, sitting at the picnic table and writing, and sitting in the lawn chair and writing.

Understand that my children are home with me during the summer. I want summer for my children to be long luscious-ending days. Days to be filled with hiking, camping, berry picking, exploration, and 1001 dreamed up games. Summer I believe is a playground for my children's imagination.

So in order to make everything work, my writing schedule shifts to early mornings and late nights. During the days I'm joining in with their games and activities. Occasionally if there's a sandbox break , I will pull out the notebook but that is unplanned bonus time.

The signs of my next schedule change are nibbling at me though. The leaves will be starting to change soon. The Back To School flyers are in the mail, and soon I will be back to working mornings.

I look at this year in particular with a wistful gaze. It's my youngest child's last pre-school year. Soon my last child will be joining his brother and sister in full time school. Before I know it, my house will be quiet until the bus brings everyone home at three. I don't want to think about it.

I look forward to fall too though. No more early mornings. No more late nights. A morning to sit with a cup of tea, notebook in hand and write. A time to enjoy the change in seasons and schedules once again.