---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, I wake up, take care of my son…"
description: "\"Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little while, and then like, \"I am gonna write!\" And then I wind up.\" — Joel Stein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg"
---

#  Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little…

![“Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little while, and then like, &quot;I am gonna write!&quot; And then I wind up.” quote by Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg)

> “Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little while, and then like, "I am gonna write!" And then I wind up.”

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative work often feels like a fleeting burst of motivation that quickly fades without discipline and structure.

**In simple terms:** Inspiration is brief; routine sustains creation.

Key Takeaway

Build habits to support creativity.

Themes

creativity discipline routine motivation

Mood

light‑hearted reflective

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- daily writing
- project deadlines
- parenting schedule
- creative blocks

Key Concepts

psychology productivity writing

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn brief inspiration into lasting work?
- What habits help you write consistently?

A Different Perspective

Even with routine, inspiration can still be elusive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Basically Wake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically-wake-2582955/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-son-423764/) [Gonna Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gonna-write/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [My son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-son/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-wind-2582956/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [Write as the wind blows and command all words like an army!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/write-as-the-wind-blows-and-command-all-words-like-an-army/)

[Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/)

> [I don't care if your son is 3, I'm not giving up this swing, thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-care-if-your-son-is-3-i-m-not-giving-up-this-swing-thanks/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In the past if you picture events like a black tie Whats the last thing you expect to see, black guys Whats the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/in-the-past-if-you-picture-events-like-a-black-tie-whats-the-last/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [My kids are the most inspiring thing that pushes me. It used to be because they were born, and I had to take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/my-kids-are-the-most-inspiring-thing-that-pushes-me-it-used-to-be/)

[Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/)

> [All I really care about is my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/all-i-really-care-about-is-my-son/)

[Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/)

> [“I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-ll-take-care-of-your-son-said-laurent-i-ll-protect-his-kingdom-as-2/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“You have to learn when to care, son. His father’s voice. And when to let go. You’ll grow calluses. He never had. Storm him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/you-have-to-learn-when-to-care-son-his-father-s-voice-and-when-to-let/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [“I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-ll-take-care-of-your-son-said-laurent-i-ll-protect-his-kingdom-as/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [I will put my heart and soul into making sure that the care your son or daughter or mum or dad receives is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/i-will-put-my-heart-and-soul-into-making-sure-that-the-care-your-son/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [“Lirin sighed, rounding the steps, sitting down beside his son. “Kal, this happens. It’s unfortunate, but you couldn’t have done more. That little body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/lirin-sighed-rounding-the-steps-sitting-down-beside-his-son-kal-this/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [“Who's going to take care of it? You?. . . Son, you came in the house yesterday with sh\*t on your hands. Humansh\*t. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/who-s-going-to-take-care-of-it-you-son-you-came-in-the-house/)

[Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/)

> [Taking Care Of My Son Is My Top Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrell-flowers/taking-care-of-my-son-is-my-top-priority/)

[Gerrell Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrell-flowers/)

> [Whats the life expectancy for black guys? The systems working effectively, thats why. Ill be a real man and take care of your son.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/whats-the-life-expectancy-for-black-guys-the-systems-working/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [My son is the reason why I write music. He's the reason why everything is different for me. Because when he came into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/my-son-is-the-reason-why-i-write-music-he-s-the-reason-why-everything/)

[Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/)

> [ I've always defined myself as a writer, I've never decided what it was I was gonna write. \[...\] I always fancied myself one, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/i-ve-always-defined-myself-as-a-writer-i-ve-never-decided-what-it-was/)

[Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/)

## More by Joel Stein

> [I want to be heavily tied to a city that I write for every week, that knows my stuff and I can interact with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-want-to-be-heavily-tied-to-a-city-that-i-write-for-every-week-that/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I never thought to look at the New York Times one, even though I knew people were pissed off. I've seen YouTube videos from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-never-thought-to-look-at-the-new-york-times-one-even-though-i-knew/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [When wine drinkers tell me they taste notes of cherries, tobacco and rose petals, usually all I can detect is a whole lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/when-wine-drinkers-tell-me-they-taste-notes-of-cherries-tobacco-and/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [When Time got rid of my column, I thought it was all over. It was really sad. And then, I just started pushing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/when-time-got-rid-of-my-column-i-thought-it-was-all-over-it-was/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [ I have some idea that if I pick on \[boy band\] One Direction, I'll get a ton of hate mail, because I know that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-have-some-idea-that-if-i-pick-on-boy-band-one-direction-i-ll-get-a/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I don't read "letters" sections of magazines, but I'll read anyone's blog post about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-don-t-read-letters-sections-of-magazines-but-i-ll-read-anyone-s/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I've definitely written people e-mails telling them I've loved their stories, but that seems more like a professional journalist thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-ve-definitely-written-people-e-mails-telling-them-i-ve-loved-their/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I can't imagine what someone would write that would infuriate me. Maybe if my loved one had died of some disease and someone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-can-t-imagine-what-someone-would-write-that-would-infuriate-me/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [People would ask if I wanted to host things and I was like, "No, I'm a writer, I don't host things." Just thinking I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/people-would-ask-if-i-wanted-to-host-things-and-i-was-like-no-i-m-a/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I don't like to be in the forest. It's a weird thing. I've learned to have a general appreciation for nature, which has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-don-t-like-to-be-in-the-forest-it-s-a-weird-thing-i-ve-learned-to/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [Early on, even in college, I figured out that it was just more interesting to me to create content than to write about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/early-on-even-in-college-i-figured-out-that-it-was-just-more/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I think I realized that Dave Barry was funnier than I'll ever be, and he made no attempt to make any actual points. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-think-i-realized-that-dave-barry-was-funnier-than-i-ll-ever-be-and/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I always thought that being at Time and tweaking your bosses and exploiting your expense account was just fun. Just joyous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-always-thought-that-being-at-time-and-tweaking-your-bosses-and/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I'm not that clued into what people are that touchy about and how many of them there are and how niche these niches are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-m-not-that-clued-into-what-people-are-that-touchy-about-and-how/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

> [I can't imagine deer hunting. I used to think I couldn't imagine deer hunting because killing a deer seemed so awful. But now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-can-t-imagine-deer-hunting-i-used-to-think-i-couldn-t-imagine-deer/)

[Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

[Explore all 55 Joel Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/)

## More Care quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/)

[Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

[Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little while, and then like, \"I am gonna write!\" And then I wind up.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joel Stein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son-for-a-little-while-and-then/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Care"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son-for-a-little-while-and-then/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/joel-stein-12345_care_basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son_1871221.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Basically, I wake up, take care of my son for a little while, and then like, \"I am gonna write!\" And then I…” — Joel Stein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joel Stein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Basically, I wake up, take care...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son-for-a-little-while-and-then/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/basically-i-wake-up-take-care-of-my-son-for-a-little-while-and-then/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
