Serious Withdrawal

I'm so deprived of crafting time that I'm tying Kate's hair in bows!    In the last fourteen years, I've kept this household on track, given the kids the right stuff in the right place at the right times, volunteered at school, and helped friends with odd jobs but haven't worked regularly outside the house in...a real long time.  Although always busy at home, I had the luxury of doing things like grocery shopping during the day when the crowds are minimal and the kids are at school.  During this holiday season, I've been working outside of the house.  And now, doing the shopping in the evenings, everything is different and takes twice as long.  Anyway, in the process, I've lost any spare moments in which to work creatively on projects.

I recently read an article in the November 2012 issue of Martha Stewart Living titled, this is your brain on crafts by Lisa Borgnes-Giramonti.  The article expounds the benefits of crafting, studied by neuroscientists, psychologists and physical therapists.  Apparently, when we craft, our nucleus accumbens (the pleasure center of our brain) becomes stimulated, a signal is sent to release dopamine (the happiness juice), our beathing becomes more regular, blood pressure goes down...all the good stuff happens.  And we like it.  And we want more.  And more.  And when we don't get it...we start tying our kids hair in bows! (actually it turned out really cute - and she liked it - cool.)