Finding A Balance

The one thing I'm having trouble with right now is balancing my time between activities, a lot of which has to do with me stretching myself a little thin.  I'm finally focused on only 2 novels (which may sound weird, but I was bouncing between 4 or 5 for awhile there), but there's a lot interfering with the writing.

For one, the kids are home.  While they are older, having an autistic kid doesn't translate into a child who can occupy himself.  I have to keep an eye on him, and especially watch for his stimming behaviors which we are trying to limit during the day.  Right now that means more TV than i would like, but he's just not a go and play child.  Fortunately, school starts in about 2 weeks, which will give me between 9 AM and 4:30 PM kid free.  It's easier to work when I don't need to keep looking over and making sure my son is behaving appropriately.

Then there's the editing job.  I'm trying to get a line edit job in addition to the position I currently hold, but the position I currently hold has just handed me 8 new projects.  I'm not doing a full 8 hour day with it, but it still cuts into my time.  No big except that it cuts into the best time of the day to get anything done.

Then there are the things I can't control:  the weather, finances, and so on.  Between muggy heat and storms, I spend more time off the computer than I should; and the finances and so on are just plain distracting.  Stress isn't conducive to writing focus.

It bothers me that, 3 years after the move, I'm still trying to adjust to the climate, still struggling with a schedule, still fighting the financial crap that brought us out here to begin with.  Some of it is trying to find a balance between everything that needs my attention.  It's more than just priorities, it's figuring out what works time wise to get everything done.  For some reason, it's proving harder out here than it was in Cali.  Adding the job in the mix and the difference in the climate is making that tougher than I had expected.

I am trying to get through a chapter of A.C. every week, but I do miss every now and then.  My shorts are getting shortchanged (no pun intended), my submissions are just starting to pile, and it all comes down to priorities and time.

I have more to say, but I have an editing test demanding my attention and my son is having a bad day.

Yea, balance.  What's that?  *sighs*