Things that relax me

I am trying to take more time to do things that help me relax. I haven't been stressed really, but not overly happy. I guess with homeschooling, homemaking, and everything else going on I just haven't taken any time for myself lately. I used to go to Mom's Night Out on Mondays, not every Monday but at least a couple of times a month. However, no one has really been going lately with the exception of Bridget but her schedule has been sketchy too. I used to think I needed more adult conversation, but lately it has become more evident I just need to do things I want to do.

I love to crochet but honestly in the summer I just can not bring myself to do it. It is warm enough without a growing blanket on top of me. So, I've been reading. Yep! Reading books that look interesting to me instead of being school related. I have read quite a few recently. Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott I loved. They were written in the late 19th century but I found some things hold up through time. The Little Black Book of Secrets was enthralling from the beginning. I just could not stop reading that one. And yes there is a trend here that the books are all from the juvenile section. So many good books I never read growing up.

I loved reading when I was young (Chloe's age), then I...well, I don't know exactly what happened. Somewhere in elementary school I became very intimidated by the library. Not sure why. The "big kid" section terrified me for some reason. So that is when my fun reading stopped. I did not pick up the habit again until college. Then I read a lot, when I had time. When the girls came along I read to them all the time when they were small. Now, they can read themselves so I am free to read what I want again. It has almost been like a weight lifted off of my since my adventures in books has returned. I do love a good book! I hoped, when I was pregnant with Jesse, to have children who love to read. I was teased a good bit by my co-workers at the time because every payday I'd go by books at the bookstore. A small fortune spent, but as I watch them now reading the books they have picked out on their own I know it was worth what I spent and so much more.