Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Balancing model making and time with family

This evening we're off to the airport to pick up my Mother-in-law, who is visiting us for a week.





I get on well with her, so all those corny old Mother-in-law jokes don't actually apply in this case. But the image above does apply - houseguests mean a lot less modelling time.

On the plus side: a lot more time with my beautiful partner.

I really love building models, but it is intrinsically an anti-social hobby. It involves many hours of sitting by yourself, not interacting with your family and friends.

Over the years I've seen a number of memes about models and wives. There are lots of unfunny, borderline misogynist "jokes" on Facebook about having to sneak your latest model purchase past the wife waiting with a rolling pin. If that's the reality of your life, it's pretty sad.

Pictured: Not actually funny.


One group I a member of on Facebook, the Scale Modellers Critique Group, sometimes cops flak for being a bit brutal and cliquey. But to their immense credit, they have a zero-tolerance policy to jokes about battleaxe wives and sneaking your latest model kit purchase home.

Anyway, what it all boils down to is this: if you have a partner and family who support and/or tolerate your modelling hobby, then you're very lucky. It is a solitary hobby, and it takes up a lot of time. But it is better than just brainlessly watching tv, and as vices go there are much, much worse ways to throw away cash and time!

I try to involve my daughter where I can, and I hope that she catches the bug and does make some models in her life, or at least develops a love of craft and building something aesthetically pleasing with her own two hands.

I won't say I've got the balance 100% right - sometimes I get a bit obsessed. Sometimes I spend too much time at the workbench.

Enjoy your hobby, but don't forget to realise how lucky you are if your significant other supports you. I know I am.

Cheers,

Dave

3 comments:

  1. Right? I hate that "She Who Must Be Obeyed" crap that you see all the time on modelling forums (even though some of it is tongue-in-cheek). Only input my partner has suggested (aside from saying nice things about my builds and hinting that I should dust them more often!) is that I should maybe reduce my stash rather than constantly buying shiny new kits to go live under the bed in the spare room. And she's dead right.

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    2. and I need to get her to finish the Revell Nieuport she started building two years ago! Although maybe her PhD might be a slightly more important use of her spare time...!!

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