How much leisure time is sinful?

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Lucy_1

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I’m a wife and mom, but my kids are adults (ages 18-22) but they live at home. Covid has really changed my life a lot, because most of my activities running errands, appointments, etc., and now I rarely leave the house. Most of my time now is just spent on hobbies, but I’m wondering if that’s sinful, and if so, what should I be doing with my time instead? Also, I hear the phrase duties of state, but I’m not really sure what those would be with older kids. Especially since some would be culturally specific.
 
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As long as you aren’t neglecting your other duties-taking care of your family, going to church, don’t worry about it. We need time to relax.
 
God knows that a wife and mother work 24/7. We all need rest. There’s nothing wrong with taking things easy. As long as you aren’t neglecting your duties as a wife, mother, worker, and disciple of Christ, whatever those duties may be, I’d say that you aren’t sinning. In fact, your leisure could be a time of prayer. You could try and spend more time in contemplative prayer (i.e. Rosary) if you want. Or you can even offer up your hobbies to God. God has given you certain passions that motivate you to participate in those hobbies. As such, those hobbies can be a form of prayer to God. It also sounds like God has given you a wonderful family. Perhaps if you find yourself having too much personal leisure time, you could try and plan a family activity. Just some thoughts.
 
You stated that your children are adults, and therefore capable of taking care of their own needs.
None of us can say how much leisure time another person needs or does not need. It may God is giving us this time to rest. Did Jesus not tell Martha, as she scurried about worried about her sister, Mary as she sat at Christ feet that Mary had chosen the better part? Maybe God is calling you to rest in Him. The leisure time, the time you are now finding for your hobbies, is pleasing to God. Because you are finding delight, God delights in you as a father watches a child at play.
The first thing I am hearing is to stop worrying. Maybe because it is now a household of adults, not simply parents with children any chores can be divided through discussion. Maybe your children want to serve you, as you once served them. Again, it is not my business. It is a matter for your household to decide. Who makes the meals, desserts, etc.
There is always the idea, of not wanting to feel the burden. That I understand. Again, set aside the guilt that does not come from God.
Enjoy your hobbies, the rest, the gift, that God is giving you.
 
Lucy_1 said:
I’m a wife and mom, but my kids are adults (ages 18-22) but they live at home. Covid has really changed my life a lot, because most of my activities running errands, appointments, etc., and now I rarely leave the house. Most of my time now is just spent on hobbies, but I’m wondering if that’s sinful, and if so, what should I be doing with my time instead? Also, I hear the phrase duties of state, but I’m not really sure what those would be with older kids. Especially since some would be culturally specific.
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Amen. The physical busy-ness of parenthood may lessen as children get older, but the mental work (and it is work) never ceases.

Besides which, while I would never preaume to ask your age, you are almost certainly entering a stage of life where folks naturally start to slow down a bit and need a bit more time to relax.

Late 40s myself here, no children but I have a hectic job, and I’m finding I need more time to recharge the old batteries than I used to.
 
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