Finding The Balance Between Creativity And Parenting

Sophia Belnap

Parenting is a special experience that presents its own unique set of experiences and challenges. You get to help raise a tiny human being and help them learn and grow. It is important, as a parent, to not let your own needs fall by the wayside as you help this new life to blossom. You deserve to indulge in your hobbies, and your little one will benefit from watching someone value their wellbeing. Art and creativity are wonderful methods of practicing self-care, self-reflection, and relaxation, but finding the time and energy as a parent can be rather difficult. There are several ways that you can practice art while still doing your job as a parent.

Collaborate

Parenthood is a continuous experiment in collaboration. Even if you are a single parent, you are always working with your child to communicate, understand, and solve problems. Before you become a parent, it is easy to get into a routine of creating in one particular way. If you have a child that is interested in art, creating together can be a great way to allow yourself to experience creative subluxation. Even if your child has no interest in the arts, they can still aid in this process. If your three-year-old knocks your coffee mug onto your canvas, turn the stain into a beautiful, watercolor-like background. If your grade-schooler squishes your clay project, see what new shapes you see in the wreckage. Art is about the process of creating, not just the final product, so being able to create something meaningful out of a mess will make you a more versatile artist.

Involve 

If your child tends to leave your art alone but also seems to have an interest in the arts as well, don't be afraid to work side-by-side with them. Hand them a pencil and paper, a lump of clay, or a needle and thread, and get them started. Try creating the same object and then compare your results. You may even try giving them a few tips and tricks such as showing them how to shade an object or mix a certain color with paint. This gives you the opportunity to bond with your child and spend time with them while also stretching your creativity muscles. 

Feature

If your child has absolutely no interest in the arts, that is okay. In fact, it is important to encourage them to take up their own interests and skills and develop into their own person. You can still involve them in your art, though, by featuring them in your work. Practice sketching a body in motion as you watch them at tennis practice. Shoot photos of your toddler as they play on the jungle gym. You can even use your talents as a way to show your interest in their activities and interests. Sew their favorite animal into a plush toy. Rig out their Girl Scout vest with embroidery. Cross-stitch a quote from their favorite TV show or movie into a pillow. There are many ways that you can involve your child in the art that you create without them needing to do a single thing. 

It may seem like you have to stop creating art when you become a parent, but parenthood is actually a creative process of its own. Every day you find new ways to approach life and its many obstacles. Your child, more often than not, can actually help you become a more creative person. There are infinite ways that you can create art with and centering around your child, so don't let your artistic impulses go unexplored just because you have new responsibilities.