Coloring and Writing

I sat at my computer last night, trying to get a few pages written before bedtime called. My five-year-old daughter wanted to play a video game, but she'd already watched a movie and I thought she should do something else other than sit in front of the t.v. After a few tears and pleas, she finally gave in, went and got her colors and her new coloring book.

Unfortunately, she decided to color right next to me.

If I was just surfing the 'Net or doing other mindless things, I wouldn't have minded. Actually, I still don't mind that she was right there beside me because I like to have her around. But she kept asking me questions. And telling me to "look at what I colored" and asking more questions.

But being the wonderfully calm mother that I am (well, at least I was last night), I made the obligatory remarks and tried once more to work on my manuscript. I did manage to get a page written.

I thought about giving up a few times and just joining her in her coloring ventures. But for some odd reason, that little thing called self-discipline kicked in and refused to let me budge. I plugged away.

When I went to bed last night, though, I couldn't help but feel that I'd been out of touch with my story, that I wasn't quite into it as much as I should have been.

I figure I can always go back and change things - what's important is that I got words on the page and spent time with my daughter at the same time. What could be better? :-)