Pursing Creativity As A Mom
Does this sound familiar?
I had multiple creative pursuits in my childhood—knitting, crocheting, piano and music, reading, and so on.
I had my first poem published when I was 12.
In college, I studied something I loved (writing). Reading was homework for literature classes and my presentations and papers were fun and creative writing projects.
I participated in a “poetry club” with writing and music oriented college friends.
I spent hours as a working adult reading and writing at Starbucks (truly, creativity just flows in that place!).
But somewhere in the whirlwind of transition to adult life—demanding jobs, added responsibilities, and then wedding planning and marriage—I lost time and energy for creative pursuits that had once been a highlight of my life. It wasn’t until I transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom that I was able to find the enjoyment of creative pursuits again. But how did I manage to do this while balancing motherhood at the same time?
Losing yourself?
There is a lot of conversation and fear around the idea of “losing” oneself to motherhood. I can see how the responsibilities and burdens of parenthood could contribute to a person’s loss of identity. But as a Christian woman, I don’t subscribe to that idea! I rejoice in the creative person that God made me, and I feed that part of my soul appropriately in different seasons. I am not resentful when my baby keeps me from doing things that I love; I simply try to adjust my expectations each day while prioritizing the things that are important to me. Because I value creative pursuits, I am intentional to make them a part of my life.
Here are three practical rhythms I’ve inserted into my life during this season. Please understand that these examples are specific to me; what works for you may look much differently. Other moms may not value the same ‘creativity’ that I do, such as reading or writing, and that’s okay—but it doesn’t mean that you don’t have other hobbies or interests that can be a part of your life. God made us in His image, and I believe that includes creativity.
Incorporate creative routines
When my daughter was born, I quickly found that it was easy for me to default to scrolling on my phone or watching TV when I was tired. However, staring at a screen right before I went to bed wasn’t helping me sleep, and all I was doing was over saturating my mind with needless and pointless entertainment and information. Reading is a much better way for me to relax and help me unwind, while also cultivating my creative spirit. Some nights, I’ll be able to read for 30-60 minutes. Other times, it’s a page or so before bed. Either way, it’s worth it!
There are many creative pursuits that can easily be incorporated into your day with consistent routines—knitting, music, painting, and more. When I made reading a daily part of my evening routine, I began to look forward to that time all day. It became something special in an otherwise mundane day. Good literature or a thought-provoking nonfiction work brought me comfort, enjoyment, and yes, creativity. Cultivate a creative pursuit into a daily routine, and it will add greatly to your life.
(If you are looking to read more, but aren’t sure where to start, check out this blog post for ideas!)
2. Discipline Yourself
Writing is a special art to me, but I learned from a college professor that it needs to be a discipline, too. I can’t just wait for the feelings of inspiration to come. During my single years, I had a “writing morning” each week, but but as a mom with a baby’s changing schedule, that just wasn’t working anymore. Adjusting my goals and disciplining myself in new writing habits was the answer I needed.
In 2024, one of my goals is to journal more often. Once a week I try to write about whatever is on my mind. I don’t put pressure on myself to write anything profound, but it’s a good release and good practice for me. Right now I’m simply working on doing it weekly!
I also have other more formal writing projects that need to be completed, but without discipline, these were never prioritized. When I write for my blog, I look at days that I have an hour to give to writing and I decide in advance what I will write about. This short plan helps me to actually write when the time comes rather than wasting time because I’m “supposed” to write but I don’t know what I’m writing about or I don’t feel like it.
While I seek to be disciplined, I’ve also learned to be flexible. This has taken the pressure off myself, allowing me to actually engage in and enjoy the writing process.
Maybe you’re not a writer, but what hobby do you enjoy but lack time or effort in? I encourage you to discipline yourself by setting goals or making a plan to follow through in this area. Small habits and discipline will lend itself to a better creative process.
3. Indulge in daily beauty
I am not a literary snob by any means (well—maybe a little), yet there’s just something about reading poetry that seems to make me feel more refined, wise, and creative. It’s not something I “have” to do to get through the day, but I do like the beauty it brings my life— as if I’m living in a Jane Austen novel. I have several volumes of poetry that I haven’t read through completely, so I’m challenging myself to read through them completely. So far, I’ve only finished one, but it was worth it!
Since I already owned the poetry books, this is a free and quick way to add beauty to my life. I can expose myself to high literature, contemplate life, and enjoy someone else’s creativity, but most of all, I’m doing this purely for the enjoyment of poetry—a win all around!
What brings beauty and joy into your life? A nature walk, listening to classical music, drinking tea from a beautiful cup? Choose to indulge in these simple pleasures on a daily basis, and let that stroke your inner creativity!
4. Bonus… Just do it.
For the longest time I had a container filled with craft supplies that I was saving for the right craft. Yeah, that day never came. After going through my collection, I decided to simply start doing something with the materials. Instead saving baby food jars for some unknown project, I decided to paint them, (with paint I had been saving for another unknown project) and turn them into candles to give away as gifts.
By the way, most of my DIY’s and crafts don’t turn out (the candles did, though!). But I have fun in the process! I realized that it’s much more beneficial to me and others to do fun projects now, rather then to wait for the combination of creative energy and the right project. Why not create right now? Why not take yourself a little less seriously and do something that you enjoy? Just go do it.
Does your heart feel stirred towards creative and beautiful pursuits, yet you feel like a worn down parent? This is a unique season. Motherhood is a demanding, but rewarding role. When it comes to incorporating creativity into your life, flexibility is a must. I also know that Scripture reading and family responsibilities will always be first on my to-do list. Sometimes, writing a blog post or reading a poem just isn’t going to get done, and I’m okay with that. But by building routines, disciplining myself, and enjoying the process, I have a beautiful, creative life to live and share with those around me.
