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?
Does writing a blog about my kids count??
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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. :)
ReplyDeleteThere 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.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a mother at this time, however this is a great post! I am interested in learning how people balance everything!
ReplyDeleteBlog, blog, blog. And maybe a feeble attempt at a craft or two...and then blog about it.
ReplyDeleteLots 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 :-)
ReplyDeleteI like to scrapbook, too, but like you, I have a hard time scrapping things other than the kids now.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
Hi Mitchie!!
ReplyDeleteI 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!
Wait, you mean there's more to life? LOL! I can blog about teaching and my family.
ReplyDeleteI 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!
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