“MOOOOOMMMMM! G pulled my hair again!”
I sigh as my six-year-old daughter, E, yells from across the room. It’s more than a yell—more of a whining, grating shriek. Here we go again. G, my two-year-old, is ruthless when she goes for her big sister’s hair. My brain feels like it’s melting and sensory overload is nearing max levels.
I pause. Take a deep breath. A thought occurs to me. I take E’s hand and look her in the eyes.
“Honey, you’re a smart girl and I know you love your little sister. Instead of telling on G, I want you to think about what you would do if I weren’t there. How would you solve this problem?”
Creativity and motherhood. At first glance, these two might not seem to go together. Much as my story above may not seem to have anything to do with creativity. I mean, we moms are too busy changing diapers, handling household chores, and dealing with daily sibling battles to be creative. Aren’t we?
But what if motherhood itself is one of the most profound acts of creativity we can experience? What if those very challenges that drain us are also the fuel for our most ingenious solutions? That in the midst of the mundane, we’re actually crafting masterpieces of love, learning, and life?
In this post, we’ll explore the beautiful friendship between creativity and motherhood. We’ll see how God’s creative nature flows through us as moms, how the daily demands of mothering spark brilliant ideas, and how embracing our God-given creativity can impact our parenting journey.
So, whether you consider yourself a “creative type” or not, I invite you to join me in learning about the beautiful creativity hidden in the heart of every mother.
Creativity Is Central To Life
I’ve always thought of creativity as art—something you do with your hands and your imagination. But it’s far more than that.
Creativity is literally creation. You’re creating ideas to solve problems, improve communication, and make the world around you more functional and beautiful.
The universe started with creativity:
“In the beginning God created…” Genesis 1:1a NIV
God created everything with only His words … His breath. He breathed life and creativity into being.
Creativity and creation are foundational to our world and since God created us in His image—they are core to who we are as well.
Even if you don’t think you’re ‘artsy’ or ‘talented,’ you were made to create. It’s who you are, who I am, and who we are as humans and as moms.
The Natural Creativity Of Motherhood
Nothing has stretched or grown me as much as motherhood has…and that’s saying something because I’ve been through some…ahem…interesting stuff in my life. Still, there’s nothing like trying to raise children in a healthy, God-honoring way that challenges you to your very core. If it weren’t for these little people in my life, I probably not be working so hard to push past my perfectionistic, people-pleasing tendencies.
The very existence of these precious, patience-testing, boundary-pushing, heart-melting little ones is a melody to the creativity God has birthed through me.
And they, in turn, are bringing my creativity to higher levels as I become more of a problem solver—as I exercise my creativity…
What’s for dinner? Well…what can I make with what I already have?
How can I stop the girls from fighting? How can I keep G from climbing on the piano? Where can I direct their energies? How can I draw their little hearts to Jesus? These and other questions stretch my creativity on a daily basis.
Every single day, I’m creating a life, a culture in my family … as are you.
If you think about it, I bet you can easily name multiple problems from just today that you had to deal with as a mom. Each one of those pulled on your natural creativity. Some of those problems require more creativity than others and the solution may need to simmer back in your mind for longer… and that’s ok. But the more you exercise your creativity the stronger it will grow, much like your muscles.
How Creativity Shows Up In Motherhood
With everything you do as a mom, you may not feel very creative. Exhaustion often takes center stage in our daily lives. In fact, I’d argue that “tired” counts as an emotion because there are so many levels to it!
But here’s the surprising truth: motherhood and creativity are intricately linked, like a beautiful work of art. Even when we’re running on sleep-deprived fumes, our brains are adapting and growing in ways that boost our creative potential.
Studies have shown that motherhood literally changes our brains. We joke about mom-brain, but it’s a very powerful thing. Here are a few of the ways creativity shows up for us:
- Improved multitasking and efficiency: Remember that time you cooked dinner, helped with homework, and soothed a fussy toddler—all at once? That’s your mom-brain in action, finding creative ways to juggle multiple demands.
- Increased empathy and emotional intelligence: As we pay attention to our children’s needs and feelings, we develop a deeper understanding of emotions. That increased emotional intelligence makes us more creative in helping them with their own big emotions.
- Enhanced ability to think outside the box: When faced with a stubborn three-year-old or a teen’s complex social dilemma, we’re forced to come up with new solutions. This problem-solving skill extends to all areas of life.
- Greater appreciation for beauty in small moments: This is my favorite. Motherhood opens our eyes to the wonder in everyday occurrences—a baby’s first smile, how their tiny hand feels in yours, a child’s imaginative play, or that way your two-year-old tackles your six-year-old in a hug. This greater awareness of beauty can inspire other creative ideas and projects.
Even on days when you feel more zombie than Monet, remember that your motherhood journey is molding you into a more creative being. The challenges that drain us are also the experiences that fill our creative wells, giving us rich material to draw from in our personal and professional lives.
So the next time you find yourself creating a fort out of couch cushions or inventing a silly song to make teeth-brushing fun, recognize it for what it is—your God-given creativity in action, nurtured and enhanced by the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
The Beautiful Mess Of Creativity
Perfectionism is one thing I have struggled with for years. I didn’t realize it was a problem until I saw how it kept me from even trying new things or doing projects because I thought I wouldn’t be able to do them perfectly enough.
Maybe that’s you too. Or maybe you have a different area of struggle. But one thing I want to encourage you to do is embrace the imperfect in your motherhood.
Goodness knows there’s enough of it in my own motherhood. From the mom guilt shaming me for losing patience with my oldest to the piles of laundry I still haven’t put away after three days. Imperfect is a fact of life. Yet, when you embrace the imperfect and pair it with progress—it brings something amazing to your motherhood.
“There’s this beautiful thing called imperfect progress … slow steps of progress wrapped in grace.” —Lysa Terkeurst
I first read about imperfect progress in the book Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa Terkeurst. I don’t remember much else about that book. But that phrase stuck with me.
It applies beautifully to the topic of creativity. Creativity is not always tidy and neat. It can be wild, unpredictable, and messy like the craft supplies that somehow end up all over the house. No matter how creativity shows up, it is an amazing gift to us from our Creator.
Embracing Your Creative Motherhood Journey
So embrace the sometimes messy, imperfect beauty of being a mom. Know that God gave you that deep-seated creativity for parenting those children. He picked you for those little ones and chose those little ones for you—whether through birth or adoption or foster-care. No one can mother them the way you can. No one can create the family culture for your home that you can. Creativity doesn’t have to be big, colorful and flashy. It happens sometimes in the most mundane moments—in the handling of tattling children or even deciding tonight’s dinner.
Remember:
- Creativity is not just art—it’s about problem-solving, adapting, and bringing beauty into everyday life.
- Your “mom brain” is a powerhouse of creative potential, enhanced by the very challenges you face.
- Embracing imperfect progress allows your creativity to flourish without the burden of perfectionism.
- Every small act of creativity in your motherhood journey matters and shapes your family’s unique story.
So the next time you feel overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood, take a deep breath and remind yourself: you are a creator, made in the image of THE Creator. Your creativity might look different from day to day—sometimes it’s a Pinterest-worthy craft, other times it’s finding a new way to get everyone out the door on time. But each instance is a beautiful expression of the creative spirit God has placed within you.
Remember, you were uniquely chosen for your children, and your creative touch in their lives is irreplaceable. Embrace it, nurture it, and watch it transform your motherhood journey.
I would love to hear how small moments of creativity have shown up in your motherhood! Drop a comment or email me at elgemdigitaldesigns@gmail.com.
