Projects in the Tayler Household
There are six people in our house. We are all people with goals and projects. As a family we have to adjust and support each other in succeeding at these projects, it often turns into a huge juggling act. As a demonstration I’m going to list the current projects in process.
Personal Growth: One of the primary purposes of our family is to create a safe space where the family members can learn how to be better and kinder human beings. All of us are going through developmental stages (stages do not stop in adulthood.) All of us have lessons to learn and we all have a responsibility to try to help and support family members who are struggling.
Schlock Mercenary: This is a project that has no completion date. In order to support Schlock we all have to make sure that Howard has time and space to script, pencil, and ink at least a week of comics during each week that passes. Sometimes this means that Howard gets excused from household chores and the rest of us have to pick up the slack.
Kiki’s College preparations: Kiki will graduate from high school in the spring. This is the year for her to decide what comes next. Thus far she has picked a college, been accepted to it, and gotten her first small scholarship. We still need to arrange for housing, start helping her accumulate the household and art items she’ll need, apply for lots more funding, and ride the emotional arcs of launching into adulthood.
Link’s Eagle Scout push: Link has been involved in scouting since he was eleven. Mostly he has been coasting along doing whatever his troop decided on. Then he slowed to a stand still, no longer content to just follow. Several weeks ago he pulled out his scouting binder and realized he was four merit badges away from being able to begin an Eagle Scout application. He’ll earn the last of those badges today. Up ahead: big service project and lots of paperwork.
Gleek’s Choirs: Gleek joined her school choir last September. Since then, she has developed a love for her choir teacher and for singing in general. To support her in this, there are extra trips to the school for her practices. We also attend her concerts. She was recently invited to join a holiday children’s choir. Again there is a time commitment for practices and performances.
Howard’s prose writing: Writing prose is something Howard has wanted to do for a long time. We’ve been trying to make space for it and this year we finally have. Howard wrote the story in Space Eldrich and is currently one third of the way through another project that is under contract. This writing eats up time that could be spent on Schlock work or family, but it helps Howard build the secondary career that he has been wanting. Also it makes him happy.
Body Politic: This is the next Schlock book. In order to get it ready for print I have to do the layout work. Howard needs to write and draw a bonus story, create margin art, and draw cover art.
Sandra’s novel: I’m working on a novel. It has a loose outline, some characters, some themes, and a beginning. In theory I’m working on it a little every day.
Kiki’s art: Kiki has an AP art class for which she creates an art piece every single week. On top of that she sketches to push her skills. She’s also nearly ready to begin taking paid commission work. Freelance artist is what she wants to be, and we’re trying to help her build the foundations of that business.
Household maintenance: Houses need tending. Some of it is routine clutter removal and surface cleaning. But our house is in need of some renewal and renovation. We all try to pitch in and get the work done.
Howard’s miniatures: Painting miniatures is Howard’s hobby, the thing he does just because he enjoys it. We make time and space for him to do this.
Strength of Wild Horses: This is my next picture book project. It is drafted. I’ve got commentary on it that I need to dig into and revise the text. After that I need to lay ground work to kickstart the project.
The family photo books: These are books full of photos, artwork, and stories which take place during each calendar year. The book for 2011 is nearly complete. Work on the 2012 book will follow immediately.
One Cobble at a Time: This blog definitely counts as an ongoing project. The time which I spend on blog entries could be spent on other things. There is the additional project each year when I take all the entries from the prior year and have them bound into book form. I also intend to create a second Cobblestones book out of essays I wrote in 2012.
Patch’s book report: He has one every month. They’re usually very specific and detailed in their requirements. This month he has to read non-fiction books about animals then create a booklet full of information on those animals.
Gleek’s book report and homework: The homework load for Gleek is significant, but she is just tracking it and getting it all done. The one item for which she needs help is creating a stuffed turkey. The book report information will be on his tail feathers.
Christmas and Thanksgiving: The creation of a holiday celebration is always a project. All the family members have to collaborate on decorating, cooking, selecting gifts, and celebrating. It requires patience and cooperation to pull off.
Holiday shipping: The pace of sales through our online store has already picked up. That will only increase in the next few weeks. Processing orders and filling packages takes time which could be spent on other things.
The 2013 calendar: Pre-orders are under way. Soon we’ll be swapping over into shipping mode. This is when the entire family room is reorganized into a shipping center. The kids help with the work and do not complain about the disruption in their usual routines.
I think that’s it. Certainly the list is already long enough to fracture the attention of anyone who needs to track it. Like me. Many of these projects will reach completion in December. Then January can bring new projects.
Edited November 14, 2012 (one day later): This morning Link said “So when are we going to get my driver’s learning permit?” So, add Teach Link to Drive to the family project list.