So many things to do. A list as long as our arm. Things for the home, our family, our community, our kids’ school or homeschool, our work. So many competing priorities, and many times we get to the end of the day, look at our new year’s resolutions on the back of the toilet door and think, “Doh. I didn’t have time to <<insert that thing you love doing>> again.”
I’m not talking about the extra-especially crazy times, like Christmas and the first 6 weeks after welcoming a new baby.
But just generally. We’re in the flow of motherhood and life. We’re feeling organised and at peace with everything and we still don’t have time for that thing we love.
Well, it’s not that we don’t have time, it’s that we don’t make time. Because we certainly have time for Netflix and Facebook.
Sometimes I think it’s been so long since we did that thing we used to love that we’ve forgotten how truly happy it makes us and so we neglect to carve out the time that’s required to fall back into a pattern with it.
Do you want to get to the eve of your last child’s 18th birthday and think, “Finally. Now I can do <<insert that thing you love doing>> again.”?
Because I don’t.
I firmly believe that mothers can and should continue to do what they love while raising their babies.
I believe it’s really important that the kids see us happily doing what we love while we’re with them.
I believe we can set aside 20-30 minutes a day to play the guitar or do a workout or learn calligraphy or write or sing or sew.
We must.
Who knows but that we might encourage the next generation of guitar players, personal trainers, calligraphers, writers, singers and sewers… or even just the next generation of parents who continue to enjoy what they love alongside their most important job of raising the generation after them.
So, what do you love? What makes you happy?
What do you say you’ll do more of when you have more time?
Do that now.
“Time is an illusion. There is only the now.” Master Shifu
Maybe it’s been so long since you’ve done what you’ve loved that you’ve simply forgotten. Maybe one of these will jog your memory.
Walking
Swimming
Playing music
Singing
Listening to music
Writing
Cooking
Calligraphy
Photography
Graphic design
Gardening
Running
Public speaking
Painting
Sewing
Knitting
Working out
Learning languages
Traveling
Team sports
So, how do we set aside the time for a daily passion when we have little ones constantly around?
First of all, we need to realise that the kids don’t need to somehow vanish before we can start. We need to do it with and around them, not exclusive of them. Here are some ways to work your passion into your daily life while your children are still young.
Do it with them.
If it’s something that can be done with kids around, just do it! You’ll probably find they really enjoy watching you do your thing and may even learn alongside you.
Send them outside.
It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the backyard is safe and your kids are happy to make sand castles for half an hour. Let them play. Better yet, if your passion is something that can be done outside, head out there with them.
Do it during quiet time.
If your kids are still young enough to be having quiet time or a nap, use this time for your passion. Ditch the social media scroll and switch your phone off during this time. Your kids still sleep during the day… lap it up!
Do a mum-trade.
If your passion really can’t be undertaken with kids around, or it requires a higher level of concentration or quiet, why not meet up with friends and do a kid-swap? Over a few hours, you can each get plenty of time to work on your passion while the kids play happily with each other in the care of your friends.
Time intensive and long term passions
If your passion is something longer term, higher cost or potentially for the whole family (such as travel or a new business venture), try to work out something with your other family members that helps you all work towards the same short-, medium- and long-term goals around these passions.
Set yourself up for success
Pick the best time of day for you and the kids, make sure they’re fed and comfortable, and get stuck in. Don’t attempt it if the kids are grumpy or if anyone isn’t feeling well. The last thing you want is to turn your passion into a stressful experience.
Start small
Really don’t think you can manage to commit to a daily practice? Just start with 2 or 3 days a week and grow from there.
Now over to you! What’s your dormant passion? What can you do this week to start kindling it?
