Chương 263: Chapter Delayed due to Unplanned Easter Vacation

Hi Everyone, TL; DR: I'm taking this week off. I do apologize, but I can't edit while I'm both sleep-deprived and watching a 7-year-old. (Just think of this as my Easter vacation) Now, let me explain that I didn't want to take more time off. I wanted to get you all the next chapter; however, I failed to account for my boy going on vacation... and Lin hitting me with another change to her curse. This time it's insomnia and a rash. Or maybe insomnia thanks to a rash?

(Hydrocortisone helps, but it does wear off while I sleep, so I inevitably wake up.) I am so very sleep-deprived. I apologize if this note sounds a bit chaotic. There is a reason I don't edit while this brain fogged. My boy is amazing but curious AF. I can't leave him alone for more than a few minutes at a time. I did try, but after watching him all day, I couldn't work up the mental energy to edit, despite wanting to get my next chapter out this week... The sleep deprivation also didn't help.

At one point, I let him play Roblox. He was being so good and quiet that I accidentally took an hour nap only to wake up to him asking me how to remove rust from metal. I gave a quick explanation, told him not to do it without adult supervision, then passed out again for like ten minutes. When I fully woke up, I discovered that he'd somehow removed the glass and metal top to our outdoor table, brought it inside, and washed it. He then filled it with water and put it in the living room. I was very confused.

The kid loves playing with water, but I seriously never suspected he would do something like that. Another day this week, I let him go play outside by himself for like 10 minutes. I once again found that he'd taken the top off the table. This time, he'd put it on the cement and placed a big ass rock on it. I was like, "Shit, he could have broken that and hurt himself." It was only 10 minutes! At that point, I realized there was no way I could let him out of my sight for more than a few minutes at a time.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. There was also one point where I was putting together this cheap aluminum pergola I found online. After it got to be over 90 Ferinheight for weeks in early March, I realized that this summer is gonna be hellish and overly expensive without a way to cool off, so I prepared that cheap pergola and a very shallow standing pool. I've been working 1-2 hours a day preparing those while watching the kid.

After being outside for a short while, he went inside without me. I thought he'd be back quickly, so I didn't think anything of it until 20 mins later. When I went to check on him, he'd somehow made a mess of my kitchen! Sugar was everywhere because he'd filled a small Gatorade bottle with sugar, water, and red food coloring (or Gatorade). I was not a happy dragon. We had a very serious discussion about asking for help when he wants to do something in the kitchen instead of doing things by himself.

He already knows that he's not allowed to play there, but that doesn't stop him from trying. It's been a long-ass week. T. T Anyway, editing was impossible, and I should have figured it out earlier. I was definitely overly optimistic. I must have lost my mind to think that I could edit for a few minutes at a time when I know that I have to focus intensely on every turn of phrase. When starting, it usually takes 30 min to 1 hour before I can get into the rhythm of editing.

I usually work in large chunks of time (1-4 hours) to get things done at the quality I need it. Which means no distractions during that time. My boy is just too curious and is constantly asking me questions when he isn't getting into shit. Which is great, but very frustrating. Even now, while writing this, he just asked how planets form rings. It's awesome how curious he is! But I can't watch him and edit at the same time...

Of course, that doesn't stop me from hoping I'll be able to in the future since he is getting older and more responsible. Which is why I keep making the same mistake over and over again in hopes I'll figure it out through trial and error, and that he'll grow up enough to know when to let me have time and space to myself to work. The next chapter will be out on the 17th! Thank you for your patience! You deserve the absolute best! PS, my Little Dragon just asked me, "What if something had a best-after date?"

I answered that things like wine or cheese kind of do since they have to ferment... I love him, but his questions drive me insane sometimes.