Comments on: Some writers do that? Really?

By: Misty-Lynn Sanico

Misty-Lynn Sanico — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:32:52 +0000

The NLAPW Conference is great. Lisa Yee was amazing. She's funny, dynamic and gave inspiring advice. If you get a chance to meet her and hear her speak then take it! Mia King is one of the sweetest people I've ever met, Wendy Miyake is hilarious as always. I'm honored to be in the presence of such brilliant authors! It makes me want to go home and write! write! write!

By: Michael Little

Michael Little — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:45:33 +0000

Makana, that's an intriguing question. Do I hear a short story percolating?

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:30:32 +0000

Oh right, romance. If we extrapolate this discussion to all of us wearing our next day clothes to bed, how would this affect our love lives???

By: Michael Little

Michael Little — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:17:32 +0000

Makana, it's starting to look as if I need to rename this blog! Instead of "A Little Romance," maybe it should be "A Little Help With Parenting and Sleepwear for Writers and Others." I also like "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, Dude!" (Thank you, Sarah, for that one.) Shall we have a contest?

In the meantime I'm signing up for sensitivity training for guys. If I can quote myself, "I have the greatest respect and admiration for mothers and writers." Seriously.

By: Makana Risser Chai

Makana Risser Chai — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:54:45 +0000

The earlier posts pointing out that local kids are wearing T-shirts and shorts to school reminds me of something my local boy husband always does. At night he takes his shower and puts on a clean T-shirt and shorts. An hour or so later he goes to bed - and puts on a different T-shirt and pair of shorts! When he gets up in the morning he takes them off for the clean ones from the night before. Think of how much time he could save if he just slept in the them!

By: Sarah Darer Littman

Sarah Darer Littman — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:03:24 +0000

(cont) How often, during a job interview, does a MAN get asked how he'll balance work and kids?

We're not drugging our kids to sleep so we can go out and party. We're not getting drunk and beating them. We're trying to do the best we can every day for the most loved and cherished people in our lives, and earn a living while we're doing it.

I don't need Michael to give me Bad Mom Guilt - I'm a Jewish Mother, I've got guilt to spare!

By: Sarah Darer Littman

Sarah Darer Littman — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:54:01 +0000

Misty - As mothers who work, even it if as writers we're fortunate enough to be able to do it from home most of the time, we always struggle with the "Am I a good mother?" question. I'm a single mom with two kids and I'm grateful that I'm able to be home when my kids get back from school but they still complain that I'm "always on the computer" and my daughter will probably, in Michael's words, be "telling childhood stories to professionals" as an adult about the time I had to go to an author event instead of her dance recital, even though I ensured that a cast of relatives would be there in my stead.

You might call us "Serious Susans" but when a man criticizes a woman's mothering, even in jest, it's hitting her at the core of her very being.

By: Misty-Lynn Sanico

Misty-Lynn Sanico — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 06:18:33 +0000

I was just exercising my sarcasm, I wasn't really sticking my tongue out at you. You know, poking a little fun at the "Serious Susans" who may have missed the jovial nature of the post.

I too thought the imagery of children going to bed all gussied up in their day clothes very funny. An image that was only further humorous thinking of you hopping into bed with khakis and an aloha shirt. And the more I thought about it during the day, the funnier it became; like kids sleeping in sailor uniforms, it's a Von Trapp nightmare! See, FUNNY!

By: Michael Little

Michael Little — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:34:44 +0000

To continue, I'm also sure that tee shirts and yoga pants are excellent for any time of the day, unlike cowboy pajamas. I'm pretty sure that Misty-Lynn missed me with the rock, although sticking out the tongue did hurt my feelings. What else? Oh yes, I'm sure that I am not a dangerous driver. And I'm sure that my mind is warped from watching way too many episodes of Seinfeld, the show about nothing.

Finally, I'm sure that the target of my humor is more often myself than others. For example, early Monday morning I was driving behind a car with a small sticker in the rear window that said "lo cal girl" and I was trying to decide if that meant Jennie Craig or some other diet. I followed the car for a couple of blocks and then read the sticker again and realized that it said "local girl."

By: Michael Little

Michael Little — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:23:26 +0000

Thank you all for your passion and caring! I have the greatest respect and admiration for mothers and writers. Both pursuits are incredibly demanding and splendid paths on which to journey, and to walk both paths at once is truly brave and wonderful.

The heroines in my novels and short stories, by the way, are all strong, intelligent, caring women. They are more highly evolved than the male characters, who tend to be well intentioned but often clueless.

I enjoyed Lisa's interview and was just having some end-of-the-week fun with the idea of children sleeping in their school clothes. I'm sure they are not scarred for life by the experience. I'm sure that Lisa Yee is a fantastic mother. I'm sure that her children are well fed and well loved.