Separation of any kind can often be really daunting at first. You don't know what you're going to do with all that extra time, many are often frustrated and the first week really is probably the toughest to get through. At last for me that's always been the case. Over time, I've learned a few ways to get around the "first week" rut. So today I think it would be fun to discuss hobbies! They're great effective ways to get your mind off of the separation (in a way) and you can save tons of money around the Holidays, hand made presents are always fun.

I'm one of those people that like to learn a new thing every year. Keeps the mind sharp. The first time my husband and I had to deal with a separation, (he went to boot camp) I picked up crocheting. In my opinion it's easier than knitting. Essentially you learn a few basic stitches (chain, single crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet) and build from there. It's great for anyone who just wants a hobby that's relatively simple and gives fast gratitude. You can get the basics down in a somewhat short period of time and some projects are simple (and short) you'll feel great after you finish a project! That, and it makes great Christmas presents. I normally start a batch of scarves around Halloween and send them to my friends for Christmas Gifts. I learned the basics from a book that came with the starter kit I purchased from a Crafts store. Remember, as with everything practice makes perfect so by the time your sweetheart returns, you could be a pro! And maybe have a nice blanket or scarf to give him (or her). I personally love the site: Crochet Me they have a nice community a lots of fun free patterns to try.

The following year my husband was training, I picked up knitting which for me, was tougher than crocheting. But it's great because often you can combine the two skills to make some interesting projects. For knitting, you learn the basic knit and purl stitches and build from there. I am by no means an expert on knitting (still working on it), but I enjoy trying! It's a great thing to do at the end of the night to unwind and relax. It can be a little frustrating at first, I had some issues with coordinating the needles, but with the help of Knitting Help I figured out the basics. You should check them out, Kim has some wonderful videos up that show you how to do things step by step. She even has videos for advanced knitters and a lovely community to help!

I have tons of girlfriends that love to scrapbook I do it on occasion but it's not really one of my primary hobbies. Scrapbooking was great when my husband deployed, I got to work on pictures, letters, ribbons from gifts he had given me... It made me feel closer to him as I was working on it. Maybe you should consider scrapbooking! You can even give your Service Member a nice completed album when he or she gets back! Scrapbook.com has a nice gallery for inspiration, resources, and a nice place to look for classes!

Well, that's all I've got for hobbies for now. Feel free to comment and tell me about your hobbies!

Last update : 08/09/2008 05:15 PM

Average user rating

   (0 vote)