i've had a personal revelation today that shocked me.
while sitting at the playground with some other homeschool moms, one of them asked me what I like to do when i had free time.
and i couldn't answer her straightaway. i didn't know the answer...
it distressed me as i sat there trying to pull things from my mind...but i couldn't think of anything but vacations and reading. i couldn't think of anything i wanted to do in my little free time other than take a quick break and recuperate.
now, i know that it's not because i'm homeschooling that i've lost touch with myself. my kids are under 6 years old, and this is has been very physically intensive season for raising children, and i do not regret my choice to be with them full-time. i am honored and pleased to have had the opportunity to do so.
the mom who asked me this great question has children over 10 years old. she's beyond my parenting stage and into others that i am totally not ready for. but, she's also in a stage where she is free to enjoy more things for herself, and maybe, i too, am entering a place where i can continue to devote myself to my family, but also invest time towards nurturing my interests and passions?
so then that leads me to this - if i could, what would i want to do?! just as my children are entering a new stage (more independence and growth), so am I!!! some day i'll get to have another chance at myself and see what is inside yet to be discovered.
so, i'm going to start a list of things i think i might enjoy doing (even if just once):
-backpacking (this was her idea, and i think i might have agreed to it [no laughing at me, mother])
-annual mission trips (i enjoy these trips so much and hope for more of them)
-pottery
-karate?
-card games
-write book(s)
-scuba dive
-shark cage diving in the ocean
-punch needle
-crafting - what?
whew! there's a list to begin with. hopefully i'll have more time to pursue some/any of these things in the future. but until then, i'm okay with reading books and planning vacations to aquariums in the meantime.
i'm blessed where i'm at, and blessed to have opportunities to grow in the future!
while sitting at the playground with some other homeschool moms, one of them asked me what I like to do when i had free time.
and i couldn't answer her straightaway. i didn't know the answer...
it distressed me as i sat there trying to pull things from my mind...but i couldn't think of anything but vacations and reading. i couldn't think of anything i wanted to do in my little free time other than take a quick break and recuperate.
now, i know that it's not because i'm homeschooling that i've lost touch with myself. my kids are under 6 years old, and this is has been very physically intensive season for raising children, and i do not regret my choice to be with them full-time. i am honored and pleased to have had the opportunity to do so.
the mom who asked me this great question has children over 10 years old. she's beyond my parenting stage and into others that i am totally not ready for. but, she's also in a stage where she is free to enjoy more things for herself, and maybe, i too, am entering a place where i can continue to devote myself to my family, but also invest time towards nurturing my interests and passions?
so then that leads me to this - if i could, what would i want to do?! just as my children are entering a new stage (more independence and growth), so am I!!! some day i'll get to have another chance at myself and see what is inside yet to be discovered.
so, i'm going to start a list of things i think i might enjoy doing (even if just once):
-backpacking (this was her idea, and i think i might have agreed to it [no laughing at me, mother])
-annual mission trips (i enjoy these trips so much and hope for more of them)
-pottery
-karate?
-card games
-write book(s)
-scuba dive
-shark cage diving in the ocean
-punch needle
-crafting - what?
whew! there's a list to begin with. hopefully i'll have more time to pursue some/any of these things in the future. but until then, i'm okay with reading books and planning vacations to aquariums in the meantime.
i'm blessed where i'm at, and blessed to have opportunities to grow in the future!