Therapy

In a lot of ways, therapy and hobbies are synonymous. They require motivation, they require and develop focus and skill, and they cost money and time. They may also increase confidence and create new ways to connect with others.

That is why I decided to combine them. I have always loved to sew and write. And in the depths of taking care of a newborn, I felt like I was losing touch with an old life I loved, and in some ways, myself.

At first, I had a lot of guilt thinking about wanting to do anything but take care of the baby and work to provide for the baby. I look back now and can see that those thoughts were paralyzing. I couldn’t be the responsive parent I wanted to be, nor the wife I wanted to be, without finding support for my own self-expression. And that’s when I rediscovered my love for sewing...and writing!

I decided to take a sewing class at my local craft store. And as I was looking up classes, I found a link to a quilting blog and another quilting blog and another quilting blog, and before I knew it, the sun was coming up. I was hooked. I had found a creative, online community to connect with that provided a structure for two things I loved to do, sewing and writing, and it didn’t require a set schedule. Perfect.

But how did I justify spending time on sewing? Before finding the time, I worked to justify it. Many hobbies can serve so many purposes that even though it is hard to find time to fit them in sometimes, if you really look, they can be easily justified, which is the first step.

My sewing hobby, for example, serves as a way to make homemade gifts for friends and family when needed, is something I can do around the house, is a creative outlet (something that gets me in touch with me), and a way to make stuff that was needed anyway, like baby clothes.

And since there is a such a huge online community of moms (and dads, by the way) who sew, and quilt, and craft from home and share about it online, I could also justify it by adding in two other loves of mine, writing and being social (aka, this blog).

Soon after I shared what I wanted to do with my husband and stayed up many nights reading tutorials and practicing on the sewing machine, I felt like much more of a complete person again. I was able to connect more naturally with people, including my husband, and didn’t experience so much internal guilt feeling like something was missing while I was taking care of my amazing son.

Yes, I feel guilty sometimes sewing or blogging, but not nearly the amount of guilt I felt not being able to be present with my kiddo while I was wondering who I am. And sure, managing the schedule takes something, but it is worth it.

So, sewing and writing are my therapy. I do it when I can. What is your therapy?