Balancing writing while having young children.

Balancing writing while having young children:

    Every author that has young children has faced this struggle. Most authors today already balance a full-time job with their writing, but how do you also balance young children that need your attention as well. I myself have two daughters, age eight, and three. I also work a full-time job, and i try to find time to write as well.
      Finding time to write with all these commitments can be challenging, but not impossible if you are truly committed. Options for time are everywhere if you plan ahead. I'll explain some things that have helped me, and hopefully, some may find these useful to them as well.

1.       Never underestimate the power of an hour: One easy step to accomplish a little more writing in your day is stay up one hour later, or get up one hour earlier. I find that staying up an hour later is a little easier for me, since i tend to be groggy for most of the hour if i choose to get up early. Also, with staying up later my kids are asleep, and i run less risk of them waking up since they have not been asleep all night already
2.       Nap time!: This one really only applies if you are a stay at home parent, but some are, so i'll include it. If your young ones are still at the glorious age of taking a nap. (and not throwing a sippy cup at you for daring to mention the "N" word that is.) This is an excellent time to get some writing in. I know, you want to do those dishes, or put in that load of laundry. Believe me, those things won't mind waiting for you to use that precious time to get some writing done.
3.       Lunch break: For those that work, be sure to bring your writing with you to work. Mastering the art of eating and writing at the same time may seem difficult, but the more you do it, the easier it will become. Whether you get an hour or half-hour, time is time, so don't waste it.
4.       Ask your partner for help: This is the most important point. Never be afraid to ask you partner for help, they probably see how important writing is to you. See if they wouldn't mind taking the kiddos to the park for an hour or two. Maybe, they might be willing stay home with the kids while you go to park for that time, if they prefer it that way. Chances are they are willing to help more than you know.

            There are many more ways to find time to write, too many to list in fact. These are just some of the ways I've found most helpful. Feel free to add some of the ways that help you in the comments. Remember, everything new seems hard at first, but you can train yourself to do almost anything. After all, you already know how to write, and that's one of the hardest parts.