so, as it turns out i need some hobbies. apparently, i am pretty boring. really? harumph.

i went to get an eye exam yesterday and being the first time in this particular office, i had to fill out a lengthy questionnaire (of course). among other things i was asked to circle any activities and hobbies that i take part in/enjoy doing. ok, easy enough. except that when i got half way down the list and hadn’t circled anything i started to get uncomfortable. do i really have so few interests? and more importantly, what the heck do i do?

in meeting with the dr. he opened my file, scanned the health & medical section and then stopped at the hobbies and interests. last i checked i was getting an eye exam, not seeing a life coach. he is asking these questions to better understand what i do with my eyes, right? am i taking this way too personally? eek. i think we’ve hit a nerve here people.

him: so what do you do with your time? what are your interests? 

me: <chuckle> mainly i am either on the computer or chasing a toddler and caring for a 6 month old

him: <chuckle> oh, you have kids?

insert here 5 minutes of general kid conversation; comparing names, ages, general stories about lack of sleep and eating pureed food

me: i read (haven’t picked up a book in two months), i like to be outside, walking, biking (er, it’s the dead of winter and uh, sold that bike about a year ago), i work out at the gym (ok, i’ve been once in the past 30 days), i, um, change lots of diapers?

insert here awkward silence where i feel i should still be rattling impressive things off 

my answers seem to have provided some insight as he scratches his chin and suggests contact lenses. apparently, they’d fit my totally pathetic and uninspiring lifestyle perfectly. great, thanks.

ok, seriously my life can’t be that lifeless because lord knows when 8:30pm hits i need to sit down and have a glass of wine stat or else i might. just.die. but honestly, it did open the door for a flood of hard thoughts. how can i better utilize my time? what more impactful and meaningful things can or should i be doing? how many hours a week do i spend picking up (the same) tractors, monster trucks and teethers? as much as i hate to admit it, am i still in the survival mode of life with two under two? am i even capable of anything beyond keeping my children happy and healthy, myself showered, facebooked and blogged? because as it is, it’s a stretch to ensure the recycling is out on wednesday morning and the mortgage paid by the 16th.

and i think the answer is yes andno. yes, i’m capable of more but not right now. maybe in 6 months when (please dear lord) i’m getting more than 4 hours straight of gloriously sound sleep?

maybe i’ll start a list of things i’d like to be doing (in addition to the above mentioned, of course) when that day comes. and maybe i’ll fax it over to dr. strand and ask that he staple it to my chart.

yes, that sounds like a plan. it’s 9:19pm. my glass of wine is gone, my thoughts are vented and my pillow awaits. all evidence of a seriously un-boring and totally industrious day in the life of me.

Friday, March 5th, 2010, 2:34 am   |   daily nuances, hobbies, life, parenting, sleep, Uncategorized  |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback