Art & Motherhood • by Laura Bray

Yes, motherhood is amazing. There is no job as fulfilling. There is no love greater. There is nothing that will make you more exhausted or make you crazier. As the mother of a 4-year-old little girl, I know the joys and pitfalls of motherhood. My rediscovery of my creative self coincided with the birth of my daughter and I believe it was a defense mechanism. It’s the perfect antidote for living through both the joys and tribulations of raising another human being.

Getting Through it All
Here are some ways art has helped me get through it all:

• Art has helped me get through the loneliness of childrearing. I firmly believe that I have never been as lonely as I was in the first few months of my daughter’s birth — being up late at night with the feeling that I was the ONLY person on Earth awake at that time and living through the long days, with only an infant to talk to. Even when I was at the park with other moms, we could barely talk to one another as we always had one eye on our little ones. Art introduced me to blogs and online communities. Reading stories of how other women were incorporating art in to their lives invigorated me and made me feel less alone. I could chat with other women, day or night. I felt less alone and very often inspired.

• Art has helped me deal with my body issues. Having a child at 35 meant that bouncing back to my “old” body wasn’t exactly easy. In fact, it’s probably not easy for anyone, regardless of age. But since I was already starting with things starting to sag and a slowing metabolism, it’s been a hard road back. I’m able to use art journaling to moan and groan about my journey back to loving my body and myself. I even learned how to lose weight by doing art instead of eating when I’m stressed and bored!

• Art has allowed me to craft a home business so that I can stay home with my daughter.

• Art has taught me how to make toys and clothes for my daughter to enjoy and wear.

• Art has taught me how to be a better mother. By bringing creativity into my life, I’ve also brought it into my daughter’s life. At 4, she’s already learning how to funnel her emotions into positive, artistic channels. I see her self-esteem grow every time I praise her artwork. I see her learning how to read and write because she wants to label her artwork.

• Without art I don’t think I would be the mother or even the woman I am today. I’m so thankful I found such a positive way to cope with my new role as a mother. I’m very excited to share my favorite inspiring websites and blogs this week. When you are having one of “those days” (you know the ones that are par for the course of motherhood?), try to find a little time to peek into the creative world and take heart. You are not alone.

Learn more about Laura Bray at her blog, katydiddys.blogspot.com.

Comments

[linda]

Thanks for sharing your story...although I'm not yet a mother...reading your thoughts gives me some comfort in preparation for being a mom at some point. It's something that I've always been a bit afraid of...for a variety of reasons - although I totally want to be a mom! :) Nice to know Art is always there for us, no matter what experience, new challenge or new point in life!

[Pam Hoffman]

Oh, you are so right about the internet being a lifeline!

When my daughter was little, I was a single mother and I really could have USED access to the world!

It would have been fun to get online in the middle of the night and 'chat' with someone in Australia!

If you are there now, take advantage of all the resources you have available. I didn't even have a mommy group! The closest I got was 'Parents Without Partners' which was expensive to join and all the activities cost too, which was very difficult to participate in as a single mom with little or no income many of those years.

I think it's a LOT better now for all mom's.

Pam Hoffman
http://mycre8tivelife.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/PamHoffman

[Hanne Heaven & Earth]

Beautiful, beautiful story!

Some stories hit. This one talks directly to me. I’m deeply touched hearing how your husband supported you, and how you enjoyed your lunch hour break – just being yourself…
Probably because it gives perspective to my own story where this period turned out SO very different. I never felt that caring understanding from my husband. Actually at that very time I realized, I could not expect any steady support or ‘taking over’ like that. I realized I WAS alone – so I decided to actually BE alone. On that deep ground I decided I'd rather split! It is a tough decision to split – but it was SO right, and I dared go through it! Today I’m very happy about it!

Just to say: sometimes you just must dare to make things worse – in order to heal yourself/ your family/ your life! And YOU are responsible! Every time you either do, or don’t do, feel, think, and act on anything!

[Mary]

Wonderful story - very heartwarming and refreshing! There are more choices and options in parenting now than there were 25 years ago. The networking online and sense of community is a great resource and helps encourage people to explore new ideas.

[Ellen]

I'm happy you found a way to get yourself through a stressful time! Motherhood is wonderful, but it does have it's roller coaster moments. You found a therapeutic way to cope! It is
a wonderful way to work through emotions, good n' bad! Thanks for sharing your story; Enjoy your precious little girl~