Introduction Part II: Why Now?

I felt like my original introduction was kind of lengthy (though I don't know much about blogging, so maybe it wasn't in comparison to others) yet it didn't cover everything I wanted to say, so I thought I would break it into two parts.

I wanted to address why I'm starting this NOW.  There's a saying, "In trying times, try something new."  My husband and I have been in a sort of waiting period for a while for things to happen in order for us to start meeting some of our goals.  Emotionally, it's been hard on both of us, and now that he's graduated, it's a step in the right direction, but the waiting has also intensified.  I guess this blog is a way for me to keep my mind occupied on something else--a distraction, if you will.  I'm already pretty busy, but it's mostly with "heavy" stuff: kids, work, Bible study, housework, bills.   Hopefully this will be something light and fun to do which may lead elsewhere.

My daughter is a big reason for this, also.  She's only 2, but she's already forced me to think differently about my own life.  I always had an interest in cooking and baking, but for whatever reason(s) (fears, mostly) I never dove deep as a child/teen.  I don't necessarily regret that, but I do wonder if my life or occupation would be different now if I had.  I look at Abigail, and I want her to try EVERYTHING she wants to, unafraid.  At least, I don't want to be what she's afraid of, or who she's afraid of upsetting.  I read a blog by another mother (probably went around facebook) who learned that she was keeping her own daughter from developing her passions because she expected too much from her little girl.  Her daughter was so afraid of spilling, making a mess, or upsetting her mother that she didn't dare do the things she wanted to do.  When the mother made a change, she

watched her girl bloom and thrive and start doing things the mother never knew she was interested in.  I don't want my Abigail to be afraid of doing anything because she might make a mistake or upset me in some way.  I would love for her to discover her passions early on and pursue them at a young age.  I realize that may not happen; some people just don't find their true passions until later in life and that's okay.  This is just my own hope for my children.  And I want them to have a mother who isn't afraid to try something new, or of rejection.

As I said before, I'm already pretty busy, and I could easily say that I'll wait until summer vacation, or until I actually get to be a stay-at-home mom before doing something like this.  But then I think, there will probably always be a "good" reason NOT to do it.  So, why not now?  If this will make me a better cook, then I'd rather do it sooner than later.  And if it teaches me to be less afraid, and gives me something to pass on to my children, then I would definitely rather do it sooner than later.  So tonight starts "Day 1."  After this, no looking back, I've made my commitment.  365 days of food documentation.  I already have a few things I want to teach myself and hope to blog about those things.  I created some photo albums also, one for things I've eaten and want to learn to make--one picture in there so far.  (There are other things, too, I just never took pictures.)  This is exciting and scary and I can't wait to get started!