Force be with me

I'm babysitting nowadays, and let me tell you honestly-- there is no perspective-giving life event like child watching. I'm all about development, both in life (general) and specifically in childhood.

Now, on a couple of unfortunate occasions, I've had to force this 20 month old baby/kid I'm watching to do a couple of not-at-all-unfortunate tasks-- like eat, take a bath, stand STILL for two seconds. Simple. Tasks that even if they felt boring or like a waste of time, any normal adult told to do them would be like "Sure. Ok. Whatever." But for an almost two year old, it's like THE FUCKING LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO.

So I have to force her. And hopefully if I do it gently enough, it's a positive learning experience (although it doesn't seem like one when the result nine times out of ten is screaming, kicking or tears all over the goddamn place).

That being the analogy I want to set up-- I don't feel like writing at all right now. I am classically blocked, completely uninterested in writing at the moment. I want to eat and run around the house and watch television. I have to pick myself up and force myself to write something.

But I don't WANNA WRITE!

You know you have to turn in a scene to class tomorrow.

DON'T WAAAANNAAAA.

You haven't written all week. It couldn't hurt to just try writing a little bit now.

NO!

Come on.

NO!

Just write a little bit. You'll forget you didn't want to in the first place if you just do a little bit.

NO! WRITING! NO!

Okay, I'm just gonna pick you up and we're gonna go write for a little bit whether you want to or not.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHHHOSAAAAAOSHFAOISJLEKSFOOOO (just screaming, now, no words)

Shhhh, it's okay. Calm down, shhh now.

(Quit halt to screaming/sobbing)... no writing?

No, you're going to write.

(Beat. Screaming like lemon on a wound. The neighbors are gonna call the cops on you.)