B Is for Break, Which I Am Currently In

B is also, coincidentally, for Baby.

If you read this blog, you know I took some time off from writing and blogging after the birth and adoption of my adorable new daughter. Gwen is about a month old now (and still not sleeping through the night). I'm back to regular blogging this month, but I'm wondering when is the right time to come back to daily (or else near daily) writing.

I only write at night. Maybe that's something other parents (or night owls) can relate to. I used to start working when my oldest daughter went to bed around 8PM and I would finish up between 11PM and 1AM most nights. Now, I'm busy spending time with my younger daughter during these hours. She needs to be fed, held, cuddled, and rocked. This occupies my hands and fingers, which I need for typing. The good part about not being able to be at the computer as much is I've been soaking in a lot of TV (which counts as work because I keep marveling at the story-telling... if it's good). The bad part, of course, is no writing is getting done.

I know that taking a break from writing was the right thing to do, but I can't help feeling guilty. I should be working. I should be writing. I feel like I'm falling behind. Objectively, I know that's not true. Things are gonna happen when they're gonna happen. But, still, I can't help feeling like I'm missing out on something by not moving forward.

So, I guess my question is, when do you give yourself permission to take a break? When you're sick? When you have a major life event? When you've just run out of steam? When you need to see something with a fresh set of eyes? And how do you know when it's time to come back?

-- Lisa