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It was strange, the Jedi Temple. It was so different from the home Shmi had made on Tatooine. But it was so much better for both her and Anakin there. Not only was he getting training for the strange things he had always been able to do, but she was free. They both were. And the Jedi weren't even expecting her to do anything. They were content to let her live and learn in their temple.
But after so many years of not having idle time, it was hard for her to do so. She could for a while but the the need to do something useful would set in. There was only so much she could do in the room they gave her and with Anakin. Especially since there were trying to encourage him to spend more time with peers his own age and focusing on his studies. There was time for her but he needed to learn to be away from her.
So, she worked on finding things she could do to help. The creche was easy. They were always willing to let her help with the little ones and always needed another pair of hands. But she could only spend do much time there before her sadness overwhelmed her. The little ones were always so well taken care of and happy. It hurt to know that her son could have had that if only someone had found them earlier.
Sometimes she would go to the archives. Master Nu was not only accepting of her help putting things away, but had begun to teach Shmi to read better. Which she enjoyed immensely. She was able to read much more than she had before and got to experience so many stories.
But the thing she enjoyed most to be helpful was taking things around the temple for various Jedi. Sure many liked to do it themselves and some had droids do it. But not only did it make her feel useful and let her not sit still, but she was able to meet so many new people. The Jedi were wonderfully different in many ways and very kind to her. She was learning more about the galaxy from the temple just by getting to travel around the temple to give different member things. It was not uncommon for them to invite her to join whatever they were doing at the time. Which meant she got to learn even more. It was more than she ever expected. And it was wonderful and fulfilling in a way she never would have expected.