Finding Creativity in Motherhood: The Challenge

Creativity and MotherhoodEvery month I focus on a different theme, and this month is very close to my heart: CREATIVITY. 

The inspiration for this month come from a few different corners of my life. Firstly, Rachel Power’s amazing book, Motherhood and Creativity, which collates the experiences of mothers who are successful creatives. It was recently updated and reprinted. It is an honest and wonderful account of how motherhood shapes, aids and changes creative practice. I devoured every word, finding inspiration and resonance in equal measure.

Then there are the wonderful creative women in my life. Those I know online and those I know in real life. All making the world a little brighter through the things they create.

My life currently revolves around craft as I am co-convening the craft stall at my son’s school fete. The best part of it all has been the beautiful bags of knitted wonderful that have been generously donated by grandmothers.

And then, finally and sadly, this is the month that marks three years since we said goodbye to our middle son. Not long after his death, I realised that I needed to maintain a connection with him. I did that through creating things:  prayer flags, poems, stories, small parts of our house dedicated to him and scrap-booked pages. Through acts of heart, hand and head I was able to keep him close.

All of these things have come together and caused me to reflect on creativity and its importance in my life.

This month, I am challenging myself (and you, if you would like) to do something creative each and every day. It might be creating something, immersing myself in someone else’s creativity or carving out space for inspiration.

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Here are some ideas for a month of creativity, one for each day of July:

  1. Read poetry
  2. Write a verse (or two)
  3. Go for a walk
  4. Create something on Pinterest
  5. Creating something without Pinterest
  6. Write a stream of consciousness
  7. Go to an art gallery
  8. Re-read a childhood favourite book
  9. Write a letter
  10. Colour In
  11. Cook
  12. Be Still
  13. Doodle
  14. Create a font
  15. Take a photo
  16. Craft
  17. Learn a new skill
  18. Collect & press flowers
  19. Write a letter to your younger self
  20. Write a letter to your older self
  21. Origami
  22. Visit a museum
  23. Create a collage or vision board
  24. Hand letter a quote you love
  25. Read a book
  26. Paint
  27. Garden
  28. Create a lovely space
  29. Listen to music
  30. Watch a classic movie
  31. Dance

Creativity in July

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Do you consider yourself creative? What things do you do to keep challenging yourself creatively?

22 thoughts on “Finding Creativity in Motherhood: The Challenge

  1. Clare at Girl Fifteen says:

    Love this idea Robyna! I am a day late (although it is still July 1st here, so I could get a wiggle on and complete day 1 yet!). Just glancing down the list, there are lots of great ideas on there and I can involve my kids as we are on the massive American summer break which lasts from the end of May until August….. I need all the help I can get!

  2. Zanni says:

    What a great initiative! Creativity in motherhood is really important to me too. I recently held a day to help inspire creativity in motherhood. It was very special. I am sure lots of people will join in with this!

    • Robyna says:

      Oh thanks Zanni – I did see that workshop online and thought about how great it would be. I love your blog post on it and I am going to share it.

  3. Emily says:

    This is a great idea Robyna, I’m trying to do something everyday these days too. Makes me happy. I think doing it while your children are little is just so important and I wish I had done more, but am happy with what I did and what we I did together. I think it’s just so lovely that you keep your middle son close with acts of hand and heart , beautiful actually. See you over on Instagram . Emily xx

  4. Dani Newman says:

    Fabulous idea Robyna! I’m so glad to hear you loved that book, I have a copy of it on it’s way to me right now & can’t wait to devour it. I’m a crafty mum who would be lost without creativity, there’s just something so therapeutic & nourishing about taking time out purely for the purpose of making something beautiful.

  5. laney77 says:

    Agree that creativity can be so challenging in motherhood. It never used to take such effort to come up with imaginative ideas and plans! I will be following your theme this month and trying my hand at your creativity prompts! Lovely idea!

  6. hugzillablog says:

    It’s really weird…. I don’t consider myself a creative, but as I was reading this I was thinking… Fuck, I’m a creative. I’m a mother who is a creative. It still feels a bit weird to think of myself that way. I just write stupid shit on a blog.

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