That is amazing… I’m in dire need of more bookshelf space, however, those mounts bring up the question of wall space, as well. I’ll figure something out. Thank you, so much!
"Creativity wasn’t just an optional hobby. When I was engaged in a creative process I felt more comfortable in my own skin and more settled in my spirit." Yes to this! No wonder I've been feeling so unlike myself lately. I'm navigating my second year of parenthood and flailing about as I try to somehow honor my creative process. So easy to make time for others... and to forget myself. But creativity is what brings me joy and I think my family would benefit from more of my joy. 🥹
Hi Erika...I love hearing how creativity brings you joy.
My 14-year-old daughter (and 2nd editor of this newsletter) said the other day-"I'm glad your creative, that you write and make art, not all moms are like that." Those words were such a gift. We tend to think of our creative time as something that takes us away from our mom responsibilities rather than actually offering something to our family.
Of course sometimes we have to be creative about how to be creative! We have to adapt
and stay curious about how creativity will show up within the new boundaries. Blessings as you find your way!
May you find those connections to others that also help you connect back into the creative parts of yourself. I think if there is anything else that I've learned is that (at least for me) it doesn't have to be a large community and the community might be from several different sources.
Thank you for this perspective — I’m somewhere in that middle place. Our three kids are the ages yours were with the gallery you shared (12, 10, and 8), and reading this, I realize how very much we are our own little cohort of creatives.
Good thing, because I gives me no sense of Imposter Syndrome like being with larger groups of adult creatives (and Lord knows we have plenty of them in and around Nashville). Hasn’t stopped me from longing for it, though.
I definitely felt like my family became my creative community for a nice little pocket of time and I'm glad yours can be that for you! But it also makes complete sense to long for more. I'm going to DM you about the communities I know in Nashville just in case you don't know about them. I do think being a creative person in Nashville can be tricky!
I learned that pretty quickly, coming here twenty-two years ago coming a school full of creatives in an already creative town! I went from playing my guitar and writing songs everyday to not practicing for almost all of my freshman year, so out of my league it all felt.
Mothering, in a lot of ways, has been a creative recovery of those things I set aside then now integrating with the things I picked up, in the meantime, especially as our kids get older!
As a younger mother just at the beginning of what I hope will be a similar journey, thank you for writing this :)
Thanks for reading, Jessica! I'm so glad you connected with it.
I apologize for the irrelevant question, but how did you mount your books on the wall?
I love this question! And I love our floating books. We used something like this:
https://a.co/d/fSMxgEs
That is amazing… I’m in dire need of more bookshelf space, however, those mounts bring up the question of wall space, as well. I’ll figure something out. Thank you, so much!
"Creativity wasn’t just an optional hobby. When I was engaged in a creative process I felt more comfortable in my own skin and more settled in my spirit." Yes to this! No wonder I've been feeling so unlike myself lately. I'm navigating my second year of parenthood and flailing about as I try to somehow honor my creative process. So easy to make time for others... and to forget myself. But creativity is what brings me joy and I think my family would benefit from more of my joy. 🥹
Hi Erika...I love hearing how creativity brings you joy.
My 14-year-old daughter (and 2nd editor of this newsletter) said the other day-"I'm glad your creative, that you write and make art, not all moms are like that." Those words were such a gift. We tend to think of our creative time as something that takes us away from our mom responsibilities rather than actually offering something to our family.
Of course sometimes we have to be creative about how to be creative! We have to adapt
and stay curious about how creativity will show up within the new boundaries. Blessings as you find your way!
Thank you for such a kind reply, Aimee. I like what you said about being adaptive… time to put on my flexy pants! 👖
The first part of this piece…yeah. Wow. I’m there. The homeschooling mom who craves a community of other creatives.
May you find those connections to others that also help you connect back into the creative parts of yourself. I think if there is anything else that I've learned is that (at least for me) it doesn't have to be a large community and the community might be from several different sources.
Thank you for this perspective — I’m somewhere in that middle place. Our three kids are the ages yours were with the gallery you shared (12, 10, and 8), and reading this, I realize how very much we are our own little cohort of creatives.
Good thing, because I gives me no sense of Imposter Syndrome like being with larger groups of adult creatives (and Lord knows we have plenty of them in and around Nashville). Hasn’t stopped me from longing for it, though.
I definitely felt like my family became my creative community for a nice little pocket of time and I'm glad yours can be that for you! But it also makes complete sense to long for more. I'm going to DM you about the communities I know in Nashville just in case you don't know about them. I do think being a creative person in Nashville can be tricky!
Thanks again for your DM.
I learned that pretty quickly, coming here twenty-two years ago coming a school full of creatives in an already creative town! I went from playing my guitar and writing songs everyday to not practicing for almost all of my freshman year, so out of my league it all felt.
Mothering, in a lot of ways, has been a creative recovery of those things I set aside then now integrating with the things I picked up, in the meantime, especially as our kids get older!