I just finished reading a book by Amanda Blake Soule called The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. This passage describes the awakening of the spirit that I experienced with the start of motherhood:
Given the creative nature of children, it is no coincidence that so many of us are led to seek a more creative life in their presence. Either an old creative passion or pursuit that has been forgotten is internally churned up, or we suddenly feel a need for something else in our lives when we’ve never considered ourselves creative before. Being around even the youngest children— and the purity of their rich creative energy— brings out our need for that same innovative spirit. They inspire us not only to nurture and embrace all of who they are, but to nurture and embrace our own creative selves as well.
Writing. Crafting. Writing. Sewing. Writing. Dancing. Writing. Knitting. Writing. Quilting. Writing. Writing. Writing. And then once a week, just to keep my pulse on what’s new in medicine, one review article (maybe) from the journal Pediatrics in Review.
the months i worked as a pre-school teacher were absolutely divine. if i ever decide that i dont want to practice psych and want more time to be with my children i will go bck to taching pre-k in a hearbeat. it is without a doubt the best way to spend your days – creating and seeing the world from a 4 year olds point of view!
I think children have such an innocence that just DRAWS us in. We can be as silly and creative as we want with them and they LOVE every minute of the attention that comes with it. Some days I tell Shaun I don't do a darn thing except run around and play with my kids. I love to make silly faces with Alexa's food. We turn up the music and dance around in the living room like rock stars, or pull all the pots and pans out of the bottom cupboard and climb into a cave.
I LOVE that Alexa has such a crazy imagination and I try really hard to live in her world sometimes and play along b/c I think it's important to. When Sonya pulls a pretend piece of cake out of her pocket and gives it to you, make sure you ALWAYS take it and eat it so she knows you understand her world. Then she will always want to continue sharing it with you. It's captivating! Creative mom's rock. Any others who don't know how to be creative are seriously missing out.