When I became a mother over 18 years ago, my ex-husband and I decided I’d stay at home with our kids. I had a vision of baking, sewing, and painting. These were all hobbies my mother had when she was a stay-at-home mom. Even though I didn’t know how to do any of those things, I decided to learn.
I can honestly say the first time I knit a scarf when my son was small, I felt revived and empowered. I started with small things like blankets and hats, then started knitting sweaters for my kids. I loved picking out yarn, starting a new pattern and when I was finished with something and got to watch my kids walk around wearing something I made, it brought me such happiness.
Taking that time to spend on myself allowed me to flourish as a mother, and I cannot stress enough how necessary it is.
I started making jewelry when they were napping, too.
I wore one of the necklaces I made to a hair appointment and the owner of the salon approached me and said she wanted to start selling my jewelry in her space. It soon became a way for me to make some extra money but more than that, it gave me more purpose than I had before I’d started.
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, work full time, or part time there is nothing that can give you life like taking up a new hobby. Learning to play the guitar, taking up running, writing, painting, or learning to bake, can bring excitement into your life.
A hobby gives you yet another reason to get out of bed in the morning (something we all need) and can be an amazing reward after a hard day of work.
I’ve watched women join CrossFit or train for a marathon, and they are completely changed. A friend of mine took a cooking class and loves hosting parties and baking for friends. I watched my own daughter transform into a happier person after I (finally) let her get some ducks to take care of. She spends hours a day with them, and I’ve never had to remind her to clean out their house or feed them.
Hobbies can be the highlight of our day, even if we can only spend a little time on them. They can make us stronger and show us that we are capable of accomplishing anything we want to.
Hobbies give us room to be creative and we can do them alone and never share them with anyone, or we can shout it from the rooftops that we’ve decided to learn to throw pottery.
They can turn into a dream job, or they can be something that brings us calm and focus. You can share them with people by joining a book or running club. Or you can keep your hobby tucked away and enjoy it alone. And the funny thing is, once you start something and get the confidence that you hit that note, or finish a poem, it gives you confidence to try something else.
Hobbies aren’t demanding of your time — they are yours to enjoy whenever you want. In fact, I have not picked up my knitting needles for years and I think it’s time to start a new project. I’m already having a better day because I’m looking forward to knitting after work on the sofa with my kiddos.
