April 15, 2008
Sophie Jordan Blogs on a Day in the Life
Written by Sophie Jordan in Writers and WritingHi, everyone! Glad to be back this Tuesday morning before I head out for the Romantic Times Convention in Pittsburgh.
As entertained as I was reading everyone else’s “day in the life”, I thought I would keep with the theme and add my own entry of “A Day in The Life of Sophie Jordan (Sharie Kohler)”. Of course, as a full time writer/mom, my days vary. However, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with my daughter at preschool, run fairly steady.
So here’s a “tame” M/W/F for me:
7:00am: Like clock work, I hear the baby through the monitor and I’m up …
7:00-7:30: I change the baby’s diaper, feed him his bottle, then breakfast (he’s eating food now) while DH showers. Finished with that, I deposit the baby in his ultra saucer.
7:30: I wake up the “newbie” five-year-old. Even though she had a full night’s sleep, this is a major feat. Five minutes of hugs, kisses, back rubs/scratching accompanied with an overly cheerful pep-talk about the day ahead of her. Then, finally, Mommy gets tough and threatens to dump a glass of water over her head. The threat does the trick and she’s up.
7:35: After much negotiating, breakfast is delivered to one groggy five-year-old. She’s so not a morning person – just like her Mommy.
7:40: I move into the bedroom (passing DH on the way) and dress for the gym. DH packs a lunch for the five-year-old, urging her to eat faster.
7:50: I check on everyone’s progress in the kitchen before moving into the five-year-old’s bedroom and selecting her day’s outfit.
7:55: Back in the kitchen, I join DH in urging the daughter to eat her food – stop playing with it! – drink your milk, get your hair out of your bowl, etc … This is usually when I grab a quick bite, too.
8:05: We move the daughter out of the kitchen and onto teeth, hair, clothes, shoes.
8:25-8:30: I pack up daughter’s lunch and bag and put baby in carrier. DH takes both and heads to preschool.
8:40: I leave for gym.
9:00: Run 1-2 miles on treadmill.
9:30: Do Lift class. Usually cp and Young Adult author Tera Lynn Childs joins me.
10:30: Class ends. Chat with TCL for a few minutes and leave gym.
10:45: Starbucks stop for me and DH.
11:00: Arrive home, take DH his coffee while he’s on a business call in the office. Check email, write (currently I’m working on copy edits for SURRENDER TO ME, a new book proposal, and an untitled historical due this July).
11:15-11:30: Baby wakes! Change diaper and give him bottle.
12:00: Eat lunch with baby and DH (if he’s not on a call).
12:30: Drag saucer into bathroom, put baby in it and take a shower.
1:00: Play with baby. Work on laundry. Write if I can grab a moment or two. Check email again.
2:00: Change diaper and load up baby in carrier to pick up daughter.
2:30: Unload baby into stroller and go inside school to pick up daughter at her classroom.
2:50: Time for quick errands (ie, gas, store or post office)
3:30: Arrive home. Change diaper, give baby a bottle and put down for nap.
4:00: Leave with daughter for her lesson (gymnastics, swimming … it’s always something). Usually I leave baby sleeping and signal the DH (if he’s on a call) that he needs to listen for the little guy.
5:30: Arrive home. Usually DH has dinner going.
6:00-6:30: Family eats dinner. I eat a bite, baby eats a bite, I eat a bite, baby eats a bite …
7:00: DH and I double team the kids. One bathes the five-year old and readies her for bed. The other gives the baby his bedtime bottle and changes him for bed.
7:30-8:00: Baby goes to bed.
8:00: Five-year gets book and tucked into bed.
8:15: Double-team on the dishes.
8:30: I may need to make baby food. If not, I work on laundry and watch a little television with the DH.
9:30: Write. And mother calls around now to ask why I haven’t called today.
12:00-1:00 AM: Put away the alphasmart or laptop.
Then I lie in bed, thinking about all I didn’t get done before I finally fall asleep.
And that’s a standard Monday – I’m lucky to have a DH not afraid to pull his load. This mother of two and full-time writer gig would get a bit hairy otherwise. It’s very cool for us both to work from home. Honestly, I love it. And believe it or not, we don’t get on each other’s nerves. Anymore than before, at least! LOL! Seriously, it has made us closer and strengthened our marriage. When I have to speak to a group, do a bookclub, go to a writers meeting, etc., we can always work it in with our flexible schedules. Of course, DH travels about one week out of every five or six. Er, not too fun to have him gone! I truly feel like a single mom that week. If something comes up I beg help from my mother-in-law or TLC.
Thanks for stopping by. Look for a website update soon and learn all about my August release, SURRENDER TO ME, whose final copy edits are going out the door today! YAY!
Hugs,
Sophie/Sharie
5:48 am | Share This
AndreaW Says:
Can’t wait for the updates! Have fun at RT!
JackieToo Says:
WOW! Did I miss your breakfast in there or does that not happen?
Tera Lynn Childs Says:
Sophie/Sharie is most definitely Supermom! She always makes me feel like a total slacker. http://jauntyquills.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
Jane Says:
Hi Sophie,
Seems like your day never ends. Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I absolutely love all your covers.
Sophie/Sharie Says:
Hey, all!
See, this is the first time I managed to get to my computer today save for around 7AM, so pardon me for chiming in so late.
Looking at my post, I didn’t realize it’s so long! Geez, thanks to all for reading it!
Andrea, as a mother of two, I’m sure some of my day rings a bell for you. Give yourself a pat on the back, girl.
Jackie, I do wolf down a quick bite - not good for the digestion, I know. Sigh.
TLC! You’re so not a slacker. You’re always there for me on top of your own busy writer’s life.
Hi, Jane! Thanks for popping in. My covers have been so great - I owe Avon’s amazing art dept. for that. BTW, do you know what the heroine’s name in ONE NIGHT WITH YOU is???
Hugs,
S
Helen Says:
What a busy life Sophie I am really looking forward to the new book
Have Fun
Helen
Fedora Says:
Oh my, Sophie! That sounds familiar, except I don’t have the writing component in there–YOW! Major kudos to you and other working-outside-the-house moms! And double hooray on getting Surrender to Me out the door! (Not sure whether that’s harder or easier than getting a fully-clothed/fed/lunched/accessorized five-year-old out the door ;))
Virginia H. Says:
Oh do you ever have a busy day! I know how hard it is with a baby but they are worth it.
Sophie/Sharie Says:
Hey, Helen - I think Astrid’s story is a bit different from my usual. Hope you like it, too!
Big wave to you, Fedora! Hope you’re enjoying MARKED BY MOONLIGHT! Now you probably “get” why it took me forever to get it in the mail to you.
And Virginia, you’re right - I wouldn’t trade a minute of it for anything.
Hugs,
Sophie