What are your favourite hobbies as a SAHM?

[bluebunny1]

Due to Brexit, my husband's role has been relocated from London to another European city, so our family is moving. It worked out that after 20 years of working full time, I will likely be a SAHM in the new country. My children (9 and 3) are going to be in full time school / nursery, so I'm expecting to have a bit of time for hobbies.

If you are a SAHM / retired / working flexibly, what are your favourite hobbies / volunteering projects etc?

I'm thinking of taking up piano playing again, reading more and looking forward to renovating our new house, but will probably still have time left.

I started roller blading at Christmas. That's fun. Hiking and walking. Kayaking.

Thanks downudderer, roller blading does sound like fun!

Hiking, making cards. See if you can get involved at your childrens school (if you want to)
Exploring your new area.
Enjoy! And remember it’s ok not to work and your work in the home and for your children and husband has value - even if it’s not rewarded with a salary.
oh and get a cleaner if you can

Hi @bluebunny1 👋. I've been abroad for 5 years, 2 different countries. Worked for 3 years in one of them, but since moving elsewhere I'm a SAHM (I'm unable to speak the language and visa rules for spouses abroad are different here). I have been writing a book and short stories, taking language lessons, cooking, meeting friends for coffee and have joined a club for English speaking expats here. I've been meaning to do more exploring but have put it off - but plan to join more trips out with the expat club this year to see and do more here. Enjoy it - it can be hard but try and get out every day or do something meaningful. I have known other spouses abroad who've spent a lot of time in bed, watching TV and staring at their phone most of the day and they become depressed and miserable. it's easy to fall into a rut and don't get me wrong, a day of Netflix binging while the kids are at school can be lovely, but you're definitely right to find some hobbies or activities to keep you busy most of the time. You def want to look back at your time as a SAHM abroad and feel that you made the most of it - don't fritter it away!

Thanks NrlySp, hiking is awesome, will definitely try to get out. Thanks for your kind comment about adding value, I do worry a bit about how it would feel without the structure of work.

howoriginal Goodness it sounds like you have it all sorted, so many exciting and creative projects on the go! Joining an expat club is a great idea, will definitely look into it.

iSport, even though I am not at all sporty. I do classes in the gym ( don’t like the gym on its own iykwim), I then asked about tennis classes because our local club looked so lovely - outdoors mainly surrounded by trees. The coach suggested I try Padel and I love it now. I play a few times a week and is great for socailsing.

I also take language classes ( even though have been here years).
Taught myself basic knitting and sewing.
i also walk and hike.
i left the expat community because I have been here a long time but made lots of expat friends at the beginning from the school.

Thanks Humphriescushion, I had to google Padel Tennis, it sounds awesome! I think my husband's employer covers the cost of the language lessons for both of us, need to check that. Great to hear that you made so many friends!

Tbh I only have a small circle of friends now but lots of activities. Most of my friends are French. It was great having expat friends when I arrived but many close friends left - as is often the nature of the expat community- so this maybe something to bear in mind, but they were invaluable for the first few years.
Are there any groups for newcomers to your area. I joined a group that did this ( open to all that have moved to a new area) lots of activités, language exchanges, I started French classes there and have stayed with the teacher when she left and we are good friends. It is called the AVF in case you are in France ( can never remember what this stands for).
good luck enjoy it.

I love photography and used to attend photography classes pre covid (unfortunately they shut the business down after). Also lately I became really interested in photo restoration and colorization of old pictures and some of the archived family photos have undergone Photoglory magic. Idk how close to reality the colors, especially the clothes, are but I quite like the result and so does my mum, she's learning this too now.

Humphriescushion Interesting point about expats moving, to be honest, having lived in London for 20 years, I have found the same here. Friends moving out because they want bigger houses in the countryside, foreign friends moving back home. I think most large Western cities now are quite transient for a lot of people. A small circle of friends is all I would really need too!

Sweetener12 Lovely to hear about people's more unusual hobbies, I checked out the Photoglory website and it looks fascinating, no wonder your mum likes it too.

Being a housewife enables me to home educate our daughter, so that's my main pursuit, wouldn't call it a hobby but a vocation.

I enjoy the housework, listening to a book or music as I go. I enjoy sitting down once done with a candle, perhaps a book, and a coffee.

I have a nice social life.
I am into writing and am working on this at my leisure.

I work as well and again, I enjoy the work, it's from home.

I care for friends' children when I can, which again is pleasant work.

I am stress-free in the evenings and so able to have nice time with husband and child with, say, a movie night.

I have TV series that I enjoy watching sometimes later once it's bed time.

I like reminiscing via youtube around the 90s.

We do education days out with a relative which are very fun.

@bluebunny1 Yeah, I really loved how simple yet powerful it is, I'm no way a photoshop pro but colorizing photos turned out to be so fun. Also learned tons of information about how photography was back then. Truly exciting!