Do any of you have time for hobbies as a mom?

[Anonymous]

I have been spending some time thinking how 'well rounded' I am as a person, and I have to admit that other than childcare,work and trying to catch up with friends I don't really have any real hobbies or outside interests. I was wondering if you might be able to give me some ideas about what hobbies/pastimes any of you have and how you manage to fit them into your schedule. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I'm taking a landscaping class one night a week. Probably not terribly exciting, but I'm learning alot and it gives me something that I'm doing for me (not the kids or husband). I'm able to do it because my husband was willing to leave work early one night a week to handle pickups from daycare. Otherwise, I' don't think I'd have been able to sign up.

[Anonymous]

I have been knitting a blanket for the last year and a half. Maybe after three years it will be finished.

[Anonymous]

interesting topic...my friend and I just commented to eachother this morning that we don't even finish sentences to eachother we are so eager to verbally connect to eachother and that we no longer recognize our selves...where are the women that did stuff / thought stuff / learned stuff / participated in stuff????

so - no hobbies here although I am determined to go back to the gym - just so I have something that is mine.

[Anonymous]

I am doing a vegetable and herb garden. I wake up early on Saturday morning to take care of my other babies. Despite the work, I find it quite relaxing, plus I will save some money on the grocery bills this summer. I am also trying to go back to the gym!

[Anonymous]

I try to do scrapbooking and for awhile would meet up with friends to do it together. But it fizzled out and I am woefully inadequate at keeping up. I don't really thing of the gym as a hobby but rather as a necessary evil which I do every weekday.

[Anonymous]

I try to knit and meet up with a knitting group every Tuesday night...otherwise I like to read a lot. But I don't think I really have any hobbies...other than playing online!

[Anonymous]

I've started reading while tethered to the pump. Since I pump every couple of hours I actually get a lot of reading done and joined the book discussions at the public library.

...I think the involvement of activities and hobbies depends on how many kids you have and their ages so it will naturally vary from mom to mom. Don't beat yourself up!

[zumbamama]

I get all my leisure reading done on the metro (45 min each way). I paint or write Friday/Saturday nights after the kids go to bed. Dance everyday at the gym during lunch...except for yoga on Tuesdays. Absorb myself with music everytime I'm walking somewhere.

[Anonymous]

I read at night in bed -- I need less sleep than DH, so I can stay up later with my little book light! It makes a world of difference for me to make my way through big ol' books. Accomplishing something... immersing myself in another world... stretching my brain... great.

I also needlepoint, which I can sometimes do while watching my toddler, and sometimes do during her nap. I realize I may lose that nap time by the time I have two... (SAHM, if that's not obvious) I meet up with a knitting group every couple of weeks in the evening (they let me come even though I needlepoint, ha).

And the Internet. Is that a hobby?

[Anonymous]

Reading and yard work. My job could be considered one of my hobbies-because I like it.

[Anonymous]

Does laundry count as a hobby?

[Anonymous]

I read a decent amount and I love to cook, so I consider it a bit of a hobby.

I used to do container gardening, but this year I have a big vegetable garden. This is a lot of work, but I love watching seeds grow into plants that i can eat! I have a toddler and I have made him a partner in my gardening.

[Anonymous]

I cook and try new recipes from magazines etc.- I work p/t making $150 per hour for about 15 hrs a week- I have two kids- a toddler and a baby- I am fried! I wish I could go back to golf, skiing, traveling- I belong to a moms club but participate less- I used to go to a bookclub but it wasn't worth it to go.. I am fine "accepting" things right now just cause I know the baby stage is harder- I was starting to get a life when my toddler was 1.5 years- it is harder with two kids this close in age or at least in this stage- but we';re happy- just tired!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I work p/t making $150 per hour for about 15 hrs a week-

How is your rate relevant to hobbies?