Why I never write in the afternoon.

“Mom….”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing now?”

“Ethan. I’m still writing.”

“Oh.”

“Is hankBert coming home after he shoots the commercial?”

“I’m not sure, but he will be home as soon as he can.”

“Okay……… Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Are you still writing?”

“I just have to finish this one piece, then I will play with you. Give me 15 minutes Ethan, okay?”

“Okay.”

(2 minutes later)

“Mom, can we play now?”

“Not yet Ethan, it’s only been a few minutes.”

“Oh. Did you know that my teacher made the whole class write ‘I will be quiet’ 20 times
yesterday? It took forever. What are you writing?”

I look up,

“I’m writing, ‘I love the eBert’ 50 times”

Ethan giggles.

“No you’re not…..”

“Your right, I’m not – but I am writing about you and hankBert and how much I love you guys and the funny things you do.”

Ethan climbs onto the office chair with the wheels as goes sliding down the hallway, shouting behind him,

“That’s nice Mommy.”

2 minutes later.

“I back Mom.”

“I see that. You didn’t have fun on the chair?”

“No. I got fed up with it, so now I’m back.”

“Please to have you sir, and don't say fed up - it does not sound nice."

With that, I gave up and closed my laptop.

Because when Ethan is around the only work to be done is the work of mothering and that is all.

“Mom?”

“Yes Ethan.”

“If you really want to, maybe you can write while you play with me. You know, play for a minute write for a minute, play for a minute, write for a minute.”

“Thanks Ethan, but I’d rather play with you anyway.”

Which is really the truth.

Because who wants to write when there’s playing to be done?

Certainly not I.