Mommy time...

ISN'T IT JUST HARD TO get any time to yourself?? I have to say now that I have four children the thing I crave the most at the end of the day is quiet. Blissful silence. I can remember as a teen and young adult I loved noise. I always had music playing or some sort of noise in the background. Boy, have things changed. There are times when I'm driving in the car by myself I don't even turn the radio on. I love the funny stories and crazy things my kiddos say, don't get me wrong, but by the end of the day I just crave silence.

When I was a young mom I really never got any time to myself. I had a high-need child and he was extremely hard to leave with anyone. Consequently, "mommy time" was unheard of. By the time my oldest was old enough to not be quite as needy, I was having number two. I didn't really get a chance to explore time to myself and develop any interests apart from mothering.

While I was pregnant with number three, I was the only prosphora baker in our little mission. Trying to get all the little loaves made with small children under foot was a challenge to say the least. In our mission we only used the Russian style loaves, which are far more time consuming than the larger Greek style loaves. So during that time, my wonderful hubby would take the two boys out for a four hour window of time, so I could get my baking done. It was WONDERFUL!!! Four whole hours to myself, it was such a blessing.

At the beginning of this year, I was contemplating all the ways I have changed by becoming a mother. I guess having a daughter has made me revisit my femininity. What kind of mother did I want to be for my daughter? While I always did things with the boys, I wasn't what you'd consider "crafty". But I do have a desire to create. I've always wanted to be crafty, but have just never spent the time developing it. That is until now.

The table topper I completed today.

In November my hubby bought me a new sewing machine for Christmas and since then I've been taking all kinds of quilting classes. I have fallen in love with quilting. Creating useful, pretty things. I have made several quilt tops since the beginning of the year and I am now working through finishing them up. Here's the next one I'm working on.

Then I'll be starting a whole new project from my Thimbleberries class. We are making projects from the Thimbleberries Pattern Party: 12 Months of Quilting and Party Treats book. I am really excited about our next project. I just love these fabrics.

The bottom line here is that "mommy time" is important. You may be in a season of life where it is more challenging to get mommy time, but making it happen can make all the difference. Since I do spend 24/7 with my kiddos, having these breaks to explore interests feeds who I am as a person. Not just a mom. It also allows me to appreciate my children so much more when we are together. I love including them in what I learn and it affords them avenues to explore. Mommy time it's a good thing!!