Finding me in a new hobby

Haven't been blogging for awhile. That seems to be the start of quite a few of my blog posts! I have been busy with a new hobby and also with my two children. So much has happened this last year it is quite a journey in my motherhood.

I picked up balloon twisting last November. Exactly a year ago and it has grew dramatically on me. Started with 25 long twisty balloons from ebay and went on to buying from a wholesaler in the USA. I'm not a business entity so the Australian wholesalers won't sell to me at wholesale price. And it's too expensive to buy from party shops.

So, the hobby went from single balloon designs to multiple balloons designs and the latest was a centrepiece for a friend's engagement party.

Even my husband and two daughters caught the balloon bug! Well, the husband isn't so keen on balloon twisting and sculpturing, but he's an active consultant in giving suggestions and improving my balloon bags and accessories. My eldest is able to twist a few designs on her own and my youngest, now at 18 months, knows how to operate a handheld ball pump (the balloon pumps are too stiff for her) and also to put a balloon onto the nozzle. She can't inflate a balloon yet. The coordination for that is still too much for her. But, they are all getting somewhere and I'm glad that it's being welcomed into the family.

Many have asked my why balloon twisting? To be honest, I can't quite remember. I was looking for something to do for myself. Was actually very close to enrolling into a massage course or Auslan course, but somehow found balloon twisting on youtube and thought that I could start off with a hobby instead. And people do make money out of it. Well, I wasn't quite thinking about money at that time, because I just wanted to learn something new that has got nothing to do with my children.

Selfish? Yes.

But as stay at home mothers, we have been spending time on our children, reading up books, attending seminars, networking with other parents, reading and singing children's books and songs that we forget about ourselves. It has come to a point where I am sick of picking up children's story books and CDs. I wanted to find myself back.

Don't get me wrong. I love my children. And all other children. But I need me too. I graduated with Dip in Mass Communication and BA in Journalism but am not doing any work in that field because my husband and I decided that we will spend time with our children. I worked from home as a family day care mum and did a Cert III in Children's Services so that our children can have a parent at home. I ran an online bookstore but it wasn't successful because I couldn't spend time promoting it. My husband worked hard in the office and sometimes at home too, to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.

I'm not boasting nor saying how great we are, but that's the truth of every stay at home parent. Qualified professionals who choose to stay at home. Be it the mum or the dad, the one who stays home to look after children ends up losing a huge part of themselves.

It is important to still have our own identity. So that we are not dependent on our children to live. One day they will leave home. They will go to school, move overseas/interstate, get married, have their own children. A parent's life shouldn't revolve around their children. They need to be themselves too.

And so, I picked up a hobby. Not for the children, but for myself. Also as a challenge to overcome my fear of balloons. I think I have succeeded. It has been fun and challenging. My children love the sculptures and so does my husband. My family members are my greatest fans, consultants and supporters. There are balloons everywhere in the house. I bring balloons in my bag everywhere I go and will make something for somebody at every chance.

It's wonderful to see a crying face light up with a balloon in his hands. It is wonderful to bring a smile to everyone's lives.

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