Stolen Moments

People often wonder how I can manage to have any hobbies with three children. Most know we are eclectic homeschoolers fiercely entrenched in the unschooling camp. They know I spend all day with my amazing children. What they don't know is my secret. Stolen moments.

I have only recently discovered the secret to maintaining my passions while guiding small people. I spent a bit of time putting those passions aside to take care of others. I soon discovered that without taking care of myself I was not very good at tending to others. I decided I needed to make time for my interests, but this task was not easy. Initially I would stay up late at night. As most will attest, I am not a night owl. These late night craft-fests would result in one cranky mama. I tried getting up early. This didn't work either, as I often would be joined by my children who would then be cranky. I looked around to figure out what other people did. After observing others, I discovered that they had success by incorporating their craft into their daily lives.

I now carry my knitting and my reading with me everywhere. I know that I may not be able to read or knit for hours, but I can knit a few rows or read a few lines while sitting at the park. I can sew while guiding my older children with their sewing tasks. I can draw while my children are drawing. I can write when the evening draws to an end, and we are settling in for the night. No, I won't be able to sit for a long stretch of time and focus on my craft, but I can make progress a few stitches at a time.

Yarn Along with Ginny

This week, I have continued to work on my sweater. The pictures are boring as I am puttering along on the first sleeve, so I will spare you. To stave off boredom with the sleeve, I picked up the first pair of the twins' longies. I realized I just need to knit the legs, and the first pair will be done. This is a good thing as I need them in the mail in a couple weeks. Excuse the odd colored photo, I was stealing a few moments while my youngest was taking a bath.


I am reading Freedom still and supplementing it with a few good magazines. I really enjoy Everyday Food, Vegetarian Times and Mother Earth News. I picked up Real Simple for some fashion ideas as my sister is concerned I may need an intervention (I wore jeans with fivefinger shoes the other day). Are there any magazine I should be reading?