Tight Like Unto A Dish: February 2010

This post is a little long. I'm in a thoughtful-ish mood. Feel free to ignore my ramblings....

If you know me, (or my daughter), you know I am a little obsessed with growing up. I guess I thought something magical would happen and I would suddenly feel like a grown up and the world would be a wonerful place. And then it happened. I grew up. Not in the 'I am legal now and can do basically whatever I want' sense, but rather in the 'I am and adult now and I have work to do and responsibilities now' sense. My growing up experience has been far different than I could have imagined, and different than a lot of my peers. I don't remember what I always wanted as a kid, but I am sure this wasn't it. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy, and I'd make most of my same choices over again. On to the point of this post. I have been thinking about the things I have 'given up' during the process of my growing. (read: parenting)

I don't practice the piano. Ever. I used to play for HOURS everyday. Now there is no time to play.
I don't sing much anymore unless there is a little person singing along with me.
Don't dance much either. Unless you count playing on the wii fit. I don't count that.
I like to read--but have a hard time squeezing that in.
Used to crochet, now I occasionally knit a dish cloth.
I don't really sew. Well, I never really did that before. At least, I was never really good at it.
I used to love watching movies. I still enjoy watching movies, I just don't do it.

Ok, that sounded a little sorry. I enjoy life. I think I have had a major shift in perspective and responsibility as well which has required the giving up of some things. Now I find there are new things I want/have to focus on. Such as:

Fitness, health, nutrition. I even have an awesome friend (married to a service member) that I plan to run a 5k with in the Spring.
Education. At least for my kids. This definitely consumes a lot of my time in planning, preparing, cutting, pasting, coloring, laminating.....probably unneccesary, but at least a little fun.
Food. I really like when Shawn is home. He enjoys cooking. I don't so much, but I like to bake and am willing to cook. I'm currently the staff cook at my house. Unfortunately, my kids aren't too interested in fish. Or beans.
Laundry. I like clean clothes. I just don't like putting them away. For some reason, I worry a lot about this topic, so I guess it can be classified as a current interest.

What have you 'given up'? Have you found a way to bring your hobbies into your family life? Do share :)