Who Am I?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Yesterday I went to a book fair at school. This is another one of those things I love about elementary school. Who wouldn't love a book fair? I bought three books. Two for Paige, and one for me. The one for me was about "Mama Tricks" - ways to keep the kids entertained while in the car, or waiting at the doctor's office. It included "cool Mama" kinds of things. I couldn't wait to look through it.
Last night I said to Roland, "I think I need some help. I went to buy books and I bought two for Paige and the one I bought for myself is about being a Mom. I'm not sure who I am when I'm not a mom or a teacher."
Tomorrow I am going to a scrapbooking crop, so Roland's advice was, "You want help? Don't scrapbook any pictures of Paige this weekend." Don't scrapbook Paige? Then what the heck would I scrapbook? I told him that I'm not sure I have any pictures that don't involve Paige - none that have anything to do with something other than kids, be them my own or my friends at school. I finally had to go back as far as my wedding and honeymoon to think of something that didn't involve kids. Granted, I never did finish my honeymoon album, and I think it'd be fun to work on it, but I was concerned that I had to go back five and a half years to find something that didn't have to do with who I am as mom and teacher, but something that revolved around me.
When I got married I wasn't a mom or a teacher yet. So those things have obviously become a big part of who I am. And I am fine with that. I am ok with reading teacher or mom books for fun. I am ok with enjoying looking at blogs to come up with projects for school or home. But I'm a little concerned if that's all I am.
Paige was six months old when I started back to school to become a teacher. For the passed three years, my life has been a blur of kids and school. I didn't have time for much else. In fact, I can probably count how many times I got to scrapbook during that time on one hand. So I am excited about doing it again. But now that I'm starting to have a little more me time, I'm realizing I don't know what to do with it.
So I'm curious. What do you enjoy doing when you aren't being a mom, or teacher? What kinds of things do you do for yourself?
April 12, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Does writing a blog about my kids count??
I do the occasional spa, shopping trip or date night without the girls but I am still the same "mommy". It is just who I am, and everything else is in addition to that.
April 12, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Thanks for stopping by Beth. I was wondering if blogging about my daughter and looking for things to do with my daughter on other blogs counts as "me" stuff or not. :)
April 13, 2008 at 12:06 AM
There isn't much in the way of time just for me and what there is I tend to spend blogging about my kids. I do make an attempt to read at least a couple of pages each day. And I really look forward to my knitting while watching TV after the kids are in bed.
April 13, 2008 at 8:40 PM
I'm not a mother at this time, however this is a great post! I am interested in learning how people balance everything!
April 13, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Blog, blog, blog. And maybe a feeble attempt at a craft or two...and then blog about it.
April 14, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Lots of blogging and thinking about things to do with the kids. Not exactly 'me' time :-) I'm hoping to start a dance class one evening soon but then I have to actually make it first - can be tricky with the bedtime routine :-)
April 14, 2008 at 9:29 AM
I like to scrapbook, too, but like you, I have a hard time scrapping things other than the kids now.
I had considered taking some of my mom's photo albums and turning them into scrapbooks for her....photos of her and Dad years ago, as well as my sister and I growing up. That would be fun.
I'm also starting work on an informal autobiography, just so I can write things down I remember before I forget them. Writing has always been a passion of mine.
I also love to cook. People know me for my cookies. :0)
And last but not least, I love to play piano. My husband surprised me at Christmas with a used upright, and I get lost playing it sometimes.
Good luck. I know how hard it is when you forget who you are inside...I still struggle with it.
I am finally accepting the role (and embracing it) of wife and mother, and I'm slowly realizing that that in and of itself is a calling. But you're right; you can't lose the talents God gave you, either.
April 14, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Hi Mitchie!!
I love reading, sipping coffee at home and at Starbucks, I have a book study I'm apart of that meets once a month ( tonight, in fact! ), hubby & I have weekly dates that are soooo important to us, I enjoy the occasional spa day, baking and watching a chick flick with hubby!
April 14, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Wait, you mean there's more to life? LOL! I can blog about teaching and my family.
April 15, 2008 at 7:04 AM
I hope you scrapbooked your honeymoon. It's such an important album to finish! I've been pondering what I do in my free time too. I guess I read blogs, write blogs, write in a journal & think about pulling out my scrapbooking stuff, but somehow I never get around to that! ugh! Happy house hunting!