Today's lunch -- and a question for YOU

A favorite lunch around here -- avocadoes with grape tomatoes, some olive oil and cider vinegar, with a touch of fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper.

My parents and in-laws always express a teensy bit of surprise and admiration about how "well" my children eat. I'm not all that surprised ... children always seem to like what's familiar to them, and we've always fed them lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. They are both little veggie eaters now. (Especially Elisabeth -- James likes meat, a thing she'd never had at his age. How the standards have eased with that second child. Hee hee.) Oh, my little gourmands.

I also have a request of you all. It's pretty important, so pay attention and do leave a comment!

I have been asked to speak/lead a session/whatever it's called on creative outlets for mothers at an upcoming parenting conference. I'm going to talk about carving out time for creating, blogging, and different forms of creative expression. Clearly my strengths (if you call them that ... I struggle a bit with being too modest sometimes practically all the time) lie in the "fiber arts" (sewing, knitting, dollmaking, etc.), but I'd really like to talk about other creative outlets, too. From writing to photography, from dance to gardening, from music making to cooking ... what are some of the ways all of you mothers express your creativity in your daily life? What I'm looking for are just examples of things to do (not specifically how you fit them in, though that would also be lovely!) that I can weave into my talk, and I know you all are the perfect people to ask. So fire away! Think about it, and let me know!

Comments

[Misty]

i have no idea how to help you with your question... but I do agree with what you said about food...

[amy]

writing:
I have a daily clipboard- I write ideas for my novel or great quotes or anything I might think of that I need at the store...I transfer things at the end of the day..It keeps me from popping on the computer while I should engage with kids.
I also scribble scrabble at lunch...:)
art:
We also do an arts hour every afternoon and Finn works on a project and so do I...It has helped me with learning to sew and not having guilt or having to get up at crack of dawn.

I also take a woman's hour every night at 9pm. My time/my husbands time...We reconnect at 10pm. I like it, I often walk to the coffee shop two doors down and write or chill. I think time alone renews the soul and makes for better parent.
Hope this helps in any way :)

[Jessie]

Food, Plants, spell casting, journaling after children are in bed, poetry, aroma therapy.

[heather]

...setting a beautiful dinner table most nights of the week. china isn't necessary, but candles, cloth napkins folded nicely, food presented lovingly, flowers or other bits from nature in the center... little things like that my family really appreciates and i think my daughter will remember for many years.

[emily]

your lunch looks so, so yummy. can i come over? 2 of my favorite foods there, in that bowl.

i love that you're giving a talk about creative outlets for mothers! (i told you that you were famous.) my creative outlets - writing, painting, photography, cooking, baking, being outdoors in nature. and yoga. how's that?

[Rachel]

Funny, people say that about my kids too! I guess they don't realize that kids will eat what you make available.

I carry my camera around everywhere I go. My 5 year old now has her own camera and takes pictures too. All of my editing is done in the morning. For my family, photography is just part of our lives.

The fiber arts are my other outlet; knitting, sewing, quilting, and embroidery keep me feeling creative. They are a bit harder to work in, but I involve my children in my work and my studio so I have more time to work.

Cooking is another outlet, and it's an easy one since we have to eat. I figure if I am going to make a dinner for my family, it might as well be something delicious, creative and healthy.

Good luck with your talk! That is so cool!

[Nicole]

Wow, Grace! How wonderful! I wish I could hear your talk at this conference! You will have to fill us all in later ;) Well, my creative outlets are gardening, flower arranging, knitting, sewing, jewelry making, yoga, photography, hiking, and playing piano.

[Gina]

Hey, I've chosen you for the Excellent Blog Award. If you'd like to participate, check out my January 29th post: http://plentitude.blogspot.com/2008/01/thanks.html

[Amy]

Awesome question, as this has been on my mind a lot lately -- I have a energetic 2-year-old daughter, I work full time in fund raising and I am 6 months pregnant. You could say I have a lot on my plate just managing life. I have let some things in my life slide a little for the time being and have allowed less guilt on my part for that. But I have this year committed to my photography and, in doing so, have committed to taking and posting photograph every day over at Flickr. It's just something I know I need to do for myself to stay grounded and in touch with my creativity and passion.

[Dawn]

I love to paint when I get a chance, cooking, gardening, and re-arranging the furniture ;)

[Ginny]

My six children are now grown. When they were small, it was difficult to find the time to be creative, but being who I am, I found the time! I sewed and created my own patterns for my girls, painted with guache, watercolor, and pen and ink, created my own stationary which I sold as well as running a small crafts business, knitted, did surface embroidery, and took music lessons.

Some interests, such as music lessons, had to be put on hold until later, which is exactly what I did! I have been able to work hard at the musical learning curve for a good number of years now. Other interests, such as art and sewing, fit in with the ebb and flow of daily life, as creativity bloomed and then quietly slept until the next time. Knitting was a bit easier to maintain as it was portable for waiting and easy to pick up and put down.

My husband and I included the children our interests and skills. Creativity was encouraged and tolerated. Today they are a rather creative and skilled group of adults!

[Nikki]

You know one of the biggest things I'm trying to do now is make food from scratch (at least most of it). For me trying to feed my family good whole meals shows my concern and love (I definitely got this from my grandmother who is such an awesome Southern cook). I try my best to be creative in the kitchen, and sometimes I do get tired of all the dishes and messes-but I always appreciate the "thank-you mom, this is good" feedback from the kids.
So I think with crafting, cooking, baking, and other hobbies its really a blessing that it allows an creative outlet for us (moms) while at the same time providing joy for our family as well. Best wishes Grace at the conference.
Take care, Nikki
p.s. here is a link to some kitchen/food things from my kitchen:
http://flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/sets/72157602391424643/

[Mom Unplugged]

I am not creative enough to come up with an answer to how I express my creativity in my daily life!

You might want to look at the Mother Rising blog. She has a "Mom to Mom" interview with different Mom bloggers at the beginning of every month (usually the 1st). Two of her questions are "What is your creative outlet/medium?" and "How do you find time for creativity?" Just go through her archives to find the interviews.

The link: http://motherrising.blogspot.com/

Hope this helps!

[Sarah]

Good luck with your talk! I mainly knit, scrapbook, and sew. I also cook and bake, but I guess I've never really considered those crafts - now I will! My little one is 14 months old, so he doesn't get too involved in most of it yet, although he does love to "help" me cook. I can't wait for the day when we can sit down and really do a crafty activity together. For now, I will settle for him scribbling on some paper for a few minutes. I find the time to be crafty by making his nap time everyday my craft time. During that time I don't clean the house, I don't do laundry, I don't worry about all that. I just sit down with some knitting or whatever else sounds pleasant that day and spend that time on the things that make me happy. A mama has to find time for herself!

[mama p]

Grace - Thank you for stopping by my post at BabyCenter. My son's condition is Tourettes. I'm not ashamed of the diagnosis, but I don't want to blast it out to the world on BabyCenter until I have a better understanding of the condition and its affect on him. Blessedly for us - and more importantly him - it's just some eye rolling and blinking here and there with some occasional light humming. Might get worse, might go away. What I'm mad about is not his Tourettes, but the HMO's way of dealing with it. He has Tourettes. Can't cure it. Helloooooo. What about diet? Or therapy? I don't buy the whole "just give him meds in 10 years" thing. Not if I can do a more natural approach.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Thanks for reading me over there. Stop by my personal website if ya feel like it and I'll check back on yours when I'm not ready to pass out in exhaustion.

Andrea

[mama p]

Oh, to answer your question: Things I do besides blog for BabyCenter and GoodHousekeeping are to dance with the kids. We just turn on the radio and goof around. I am a firm believer in "The Best Things in Life Are Free." We walk. We listen to music. We hit the library. We even cook together. It's not about the mess, but the time well spent. And on days when I'm cranky, like today, I give myself a break and drink too much coffee. Whatever gets me through. Hey, nice post.

[Kristin]

Well, I do all those things you mentioned, but another one is making artist trading cards. They are so freeing and small that you can do one a day in just a few minutes. I think they are a great way to feel creative and you can find loads of places to trade online.

[Tamara]

I see you have a few comments - nothing like a little audience particiapation.

I just featured our lunch on my blog - and a speil about children eating healthy food.

Photography is a wonderful creative outlet. I leave my camera lying around (out of the reach of little ones) so that I can always grab it and snap away at any moment. It is also great because it only takes a few minutes.

It is one of my favourite aspects of blogging.

[Karen]

Greetings from Germany! I have three children (6,5 and 2 1/2 y. old) and most of my time I love being creative with my children like painting, crafting, singing, gardening together with them. During their bedtime I enjoy sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking. Same things on both sides of the ocean, isn't it?! But very important for me is MUSIC!!! I have had singing lessons for several years, I sing in two choirs and sometimes I can sing little concerts as a "soprano solist". And I will definitely start having piano lessons next September - that has been my wish for over 30 years!
Does working for the church community as a volunteer count as creative? I think so because I need a lot of creativity for every children service!

I enjoy your blog! Best wishes for the conference!
Karen (sorry for any mistakes, English is not my native language...)

[Sebrina]

I express myself creatively every day through food. I try to cook most meals from scratch and I try not to get stuck with cooking the same thing everyday. And I try to make it look beautiful. I server lots of condiments in pretty bowls, like hemp seeds, plain yogurt, salsas, chutneys ect...

I also try and get my children involved in my crafting so if I am sewing something then I give them a needle and thread and let them sew up the scraps. It's amazing what they make with just a few scraps of fabric.

Your lunch looks really yummy btw!! We love avocados around here.

[Michelle]

My friend Melissa writes books for her kids. The one she is wokring on right now is full of collages like Eric Carle type. Her blog with pics is: http://mommiesthinktoo.blogspot.com/2008/01/little-showing-off.html
I do things along the same lines as you so I am no personal help.

[French Knots]

I have a beautiful journal that I write ideas, quotes, thoughts and lists in. It might only be a moment or two but making the effort to record something just for me is important.
The children enjoy helping with gardening and growing vegetables so it's a creative pastime we can share.
Hope your talk goes well!

[kirsten]

great question, grace. i think i've always found time for SOMETHING, and when i rediscovered my sewing machine in the past couple of years, it's been a lot of that.

but decorating my kids' rooms, throwing cool, creative, inexpensive birthday parties, and taking tons of pictures also has let me let off some creative steam.

[Nicole]

It is fun reading everyone's creative outlets! And how could I forget two more of my favorites, wool felting and beeswax modeling :) Very relaxing and love the finished creations!

[Stacey]

I always have one journal I keep with me for "whatever" there iis bits of stories, sketches, lists, collages. Look at things like "A Trail Through the Leaves" by Hannah Hinchman it's all about nature journaling. I agree with everyone else that cooking is a big creative outlet now that "me" time has evaporated. But I think the most important thing you should stress is setting the time apart, after Alder goes to bed I try to close myself in the studio at least too nights a week, for sanity sake.

[Nessie]

hi Grace...
not quite a mom yet, but one thing I have always admired about my mom and my other figures is the way they always repurpose things around the house. Although they aren't making things, it takes creativity to look at a common thing and use it for something else.
good luck!

[Carrie]

I'm following in my mother's footsteps and making almost all of the gifts that our family gives. I've been doing it long enough that people sort of expect handmade from me, so that gives me enough incentive to actually do it.
Sewing, knitting, blogging, taking photos, singing, dancing, yoga, cooking, baking, playing outside with my daughter. . . she's an inspiration because she always sees things in a way that I never would have noticed. And, keeping the back yard "fresh" for her keeps me on my toes.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall of your talk!

[miguette]

Mine would be photography. Always taking those opportunities to capture something funny or beautiful.

Also guitar. I love playing every chance I get. It is the ultimate creative release for me.

Good luck to you!

PS...I'm having my 100th post giveaway on my blog if you want to take a look :)

[prairie daze]

glad to have popped in again...

funny, last week i gave a workshop on parenting: the gift and struggle...i shared images and writings from my blog and sang the praises of blogging as an outlet for creativity.

clarity to you!

[Danielle Mohr]

As odd as it may sound, I find a creative outlet in my work outside the home. Being a care provider at home and work can be so very challenging. However, I like to really push my limits and find new and different ways to make my families at work feel like they are being cared for by one of their own. This is something I have found more enjoyabl/easier while working day shift!!

I must say though...if I had the opportunity to abandon work outside the home I would. For now I just make the best of it!

[Alyce]

I have two boys, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. My creative outlets are playing my flute in a community band, and creative writing (during nap time). Both are a huge outlet for energy and emotion for me. The band lets me do something that I do well while being with other adults, and the writing helps me to let off steam. I also put on music and dance with the kids, it gets us moving and always makes us more cheerful.

[Mama Urchin]

Hmmm, Papa is allergic to avocado so we never have them. As for your question, I think part of it is just being inspired by your children. I also find that if you tell them you'll do something they hold you to it, even if it isn't for them.

[Carrie]

After my daughter was born, my first creative outlet was reading novels by women authors. As my strength grew I began baking. After a few months, when spring began, I started to garden more--especially growing veggies. As summer wore on and I thought about the winter ahead, I dove back into making art...returning me to the creative life I left years ago. I am really into embroidery, sewing, and felting. I've always loved drawing, too. Blogging began as a whim, but is a great tool to keep me motivated.

Good luck with your talk!

[shelley caskey]

definitely knitting, felting, dollmaking, watercolor painting - all waldorf crafts. also yoga, singing, recorder playing, blogging and reading other people's creative blogs. :)

[sarah]

I try out new things along with my kids--such as trying the violin or the mountain dulcimer or the recorder. Instead of a nature table, I work at keeping my dining table reflective of the seasonal beauty outdoors.

[Chelsea D.]

I wish I had more time to create, but school and 2yo keep me pretty busy. I do manage to fit in photography-dh usually helps me out on outdoor shoots by riding along with me on weekends. We like to go hike around, and he occupies the babe.
I sew-sometimes. I actually have a biz sewing and creating things, but alas I never have enough time!
I also try to get down to our local coffee house or bakery at least 2 mornings a week with my daughter. It gives us time to connect, play, color, and see friends. That is creative inspiration to me.

[laeroport]

In addition to all my crafty antics, I take a belly dance class through parks and rec one night a week. And have for the past 8 years. It is good excercise and it is good for me to hang with my girls one night a week. Of course, one night a week has led to performances and weekend roadtrips to seminars, but still... It is a great outlet.

[kort]

grace! i meant to get back over to post a comment yesterday. sorry i'm late.

i think so much good has already beed said...cooking, creating lovely living spaces, gardening, just being with our children. i think celebrating--even for a bear!--is important. too often our days can simply side into each other. we need the seasons and their festivals to keep us grounded, to remind us to open our eyes.

good luck in May! wish we could be there!

[Kristin]

We love avocados here too! I have a 3 yr old and 1 yr old and they both loooove them!

I try and find creative outlets in the things that need to be done anyway or in the kids' activities. Right now with all the snow, I'm always thinking of things to build with the snow with them. I love to cook, so that's my biggest outlet...I HAVE to cook everyday! I also enjoying rearranging/decorating the house. Of course photography is a real easy outlet, as I would do that of my kids anyway. I also love to digiscrapbook, so that's something I'll do when the kids are finally asleep.

Love your blog, thanks for the inspiration!

[ramona]

mailart, swaps, sewing, calligraphy, letterwriting, decorating little corners of our home, art challenges in blogs, creating gifts for others, surprise packages for friends...just to name some.