I used to think that bread making is really not my thing, but since the first time when I finally had courage to learn how to make bread, I fell in love with all the complications, the delicate process that needs your fully attention and touch, literally!
My baking time mostly are at midnights, I love the solitude and silence when I was alone in the kitchen when the house is all asleep. Here I often have an intense one-on-one conversation with The Lord that I hardly do since we have our first child. My ears are widely opened to listen while my eyes focusing on how the dough is being kneaded with my two hands, my nose enjoy the smells of the air in the kitchen, and my mouth... Well, this time my mouth choose not to do anything but silence, not even whisper a song :)
On top of that, when we reach new season of being a wife and a mom, our minds tend to open more 'windows' than before, and it seem harder when you are a first time mom. I'm emotionally being in roller coaster, breaking down easily mostly when things don't go my way. I used to say it's just hormones, maybe it is indeed hormones talking but I also think it's because of the big new responsibility that you are learning to adapt and excell but you are also afraid to fail. To be at our best I think we need to take care our own needs to be refreshened and replenished. Even though what we have is just 15 minutes, it can change your mood and spirit to face daily life. Trust me, others around you (mostly your husband and children) can see if you are at your best and when you aren't :)
Sometime people can get recharged by doing some exercise or sleeping or eating melted chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top (oh yumm, who doesn't need that!!!), and for me now I truly find a good soul theapy when I'm baking bread. Mostly when it's time to knead, first the dough will be very sticky so I need to do the best effort to knead it gently and with consistent movement to make it soft and smooth. It's just so rewarding when you see the dough is finally form into a ball and rise! And the smell of the kitchen when baking the bread dough... Especially when you bake cinammon rolls.. Oh so comforting and delicious!
So if you need a moment for a me time and you know 3 hours of getting pampered at the spa just not (anymore, at least for now) for you as a mom, and you're looking something more than just sleeping, then consider making bread like I do :D