I'm Not That Kind of Mom

I just spent a few minutes editing my profile. As it asked for my interests I was forced to reflect upon all the things I enjoy in life. There were a few things I noted that I am interested in, but don't seem to find time for in this season of my life (i.e. laundry, dishes...er, I mean art, writing, piano). Somehow the chaos of life keeps me from getting to these things that I think would give me much joy if I'd only schedule them into my days. (That said, I should mention that since my first post I did recommit myself to reading. Some 1400 pages later I've triumphantly finished book 6 and 7 of the Harry Potter series. Thankfully my husband spent the weekend before me reading #7, so he was supportive of my slothful week of reading on the couch while the kids annihilated the house and ate Eggo waffles for every meal).

One of the things that popped into my mind as I updated the interests section of my profile was scrapbooking. There was a time in my life when I spent countless hours each month cropping, pasting, and cataloging our family memories into lovely albums. I proudly called myself a scrapbooker. And, I'll admit I was pretty good at it. Sometimes I'd even leave a newly finished page open on the coffee table just waiting for someone to admire my work and gush on my talent. I even went away on scrapbooking trips with girlfriends...and I really enjoyed myself. My first child has a beautiful baby book. Kids number two and three have empty books sitting in the cabinet (but thankfully #2 & 3 are boys and won't really care if I finish their books or not). I haven't completely given up on scrapbooking. I'm still a sucker for pretty papers, and I have a collection to prove it. Which is why I no longer call myself a scrapbooker, but a collector of scrapbooking supplies. What's the problem in that? Some people collect antiques, I collect scrapbooking supplies. Collections don't have to be used--so calling myself a collector eliminates the guilt felt for spending money on items that remain in bags and boxes never used. But here's the real problem. I have a huge collection of scrapbooking materials, and truth be told I'd love to set up the banquet table and hide away in the basement cropping to my hearts content. But, somehow I think it sounds lame--not cool enough. I mock the loads of Christmas letters we get each year in which it states, "In her spare time Julie (or other mom's name) enjoys scrapbooking". It sounds so generic, as if every good mom who loves her children should enjoy cataloging their family memories...and knitting, and smiling, and never loosing her patience. And so I rebel. I won't ever list scrapbooking as a hobby of mine (even if I someday begin to use my collection for something more than filling my already limited cabinet space). Because while I think I am a pretty patient person (on most days) I'm not "that kind of mom".