Mother Writes: How children can help (and not hinder) the creative process

Thursday, 25 July 2013

How children can help (and not hinder) the creative process

I'm really pleased today to have had an article published by US based writing site Women Writers on creativity and motherhood. Click here to read the article. I meant every single word that I wrote, but I must admit that now with eight weeks of summer holidays and three lively young children to entertain, I am having to employ even more creative means to carve out time for myself and my writing.

Not long ago, I went to a talk at the school my kids go to, given by a specialist in early years education. One thing in particular that stands out from his talk was when he said that we should never, ever underestimate the importance of getting down on to the floor and really playing with our children. This may sound obvious, but the truth is that there are many times (too many times) that my kids ask me to play with them and I'm 'too busy' making their dinner or cleaning up. Something I am really trying to focus on over these holidays is not being too busy and sitting on the floor with them - and I'm not just talking about five minutes, but proper amounts of time - and really engaging with whatever they're doing. It's harder than it sounds as my mind is too often jumping ahead to what I should be doing next, rather than truly being present with them.

The other thing I am aiming for this summer is that, when I do have a little time for myself - even if it's only five minutes - using that time wisely. I am being helped in this respect by this wonderful book:

The illustrations are stunning and there are a number of mindfulness exercises which help you trust your inner wisdom and deal with stress and difficulties more wisely, compassionately and in many ways, more creatively. I love this quote on the back of the book:

'Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.'

Roger Miller, Singer / Songwriter

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Mother Writes...What's it all about?

When I was little, I imagined with the supreme confidence of a child that when I was all grown up, I'd be a celebrated writer. And by grown-up, I probably meant about eighteen. The concept of even reaching the age of thirty, let alone beyond, was off my radar and my seven-year old self shuddered at the ominious thought of not having published at least several novels by that grand old age.

Fast forward to the present. Here I am, age thirty-five, wife to a lovely hubby and mother to three gorgeous children. Now, am I writer? My seven-year old self would hold a very strong opinion on this: No, because I don't have a single published novel to my name. But I'm pleased to say that now I'm all grown-up, I'm also a bit more measured and realistic in my expectations of myself. Don't get me wrong - I love my seven-year old self for believing I could achieve that much but I have, over the years, come to an important conclusion:

If you dance, you are a dancer. If you paint, you are a painter. And if you write, you are a writer.

But we have to actually do it, not just talk about doing it. It's all too easy to procrastinate about our creative endeavours and that's all I ask of myself now: to create; to write. And if I'm lucky enough to get something published (which I'm pleased to say that I have done, in the form of short stories, reviews and articles), well, that's a bonus. And that's what this blog offers: little slices of honesty on my plate of life as mother, wife and creator of words. It's often not easy to juggle all three, particularly dealing with bouts of chronic insomnia. But I have to trust this is all part of the journey, and challenges are what make life interesting.