As a mom, life is a beautiful whirlwind of love, laughter, and endless to-do lists. Hahahhahahahha I wanted to write this blog with warmth...but let's be real shall we? It's a circus over here all the time at my house. Amidst the chaos of multiple kiddos, mealtime battles, and bedtime stories, there exists a need for me to be (wait for it.....) ALONE!!! It's in my craft room that I find this quiet sanctuary. Here, creativity blooms and dreams take shape – the realm of crafting. Well, it's a sanctuary where I dream of quietness and creativity. It doens't always have that vibe. But even if it's not perfect, focused, creative quietness - that's ok! I've learned that for many, crafting isn't just a hobby; it's a lifeline, a source of pure happiness, and a way to express themselves while putting themselves first (sort of).
In this blog post (btw I'm new to blogging so hopefully this isn't awful?), I dive into embracing what you're working with. Don't try to make it something it's not. To give you a visual, I run this craft shop out of the first room in my house. A 10x12 room completely taken over by crafting desks, electronics and craft blanks. There is also a tiny section set up for my 4 year old, Li. Because all he wants is to live in my womb again, we are always together; he crafts when I craft. The biggest challenges for this lady: Nonstop interruptions, missing supplies and multitasking...with love.
- Interruption Whirlwind:
It's nonstop isn't it? You're trying to focus and someone wants a snack. Someone needs their butt wiped. Someone is at the door. The dog won't stop barking. And you're just trying to finish someone's birthday tshirt order. The amount of times kids walk into the craft room and "need" something is really quite funny when I think about it. Just as those creative juices start flowing and I'm about to get my craft groove on, it's as if my children can smell that I'm crafting and must come interrupt. I don't lose my cool often, but I do feel frustrated in my mind a lot. You? Recently something showed up on a feed that really hit home. It said something of the like: when I feel frustrated, I look at my child's tiny hands and it makes me remember just how small they are. I find myself doing this every time I feel frustrated now and it makes me stop, take a breath and realize...of course these kids are going to interrupt constantly. They're little and they love me more than anything. When you think of it like that, it helps to embrace those interruptions and actually value them. Those hands and those babies are gonna grow up one day. Embrace. - Missing Supplies:
You're all setup, ready to make that perfect item and...wait...where is my ribbon? Where is the special tape I need? You know that tape that I keep in MY drawer in MY craft room? Li???? Yes, Li took it and I have to find it. See picture above of my little man's latest creation. For me, I truly laugh when stuff is missing because I know who took it. Plus this little guy is pretty predictable and I can find where he usually "hides" things. I think it's important to set boundaries as he's getting older and let him know that he can't take Mommy's things without asking. At the same time, I am very excited to see he's becoming a little crafter and sometimes just can't help himself ;) On this one, I'm willing to embrace a little chaos in exchange for his creativity. - Oooooffff Multitasking:
So fun isn't it? You ever see that meme with all the browser windows open comparing the image to a woman's brain? I think there's plenty of people (not just women) who are like this. We are trying to juggle 45 things at the same time. I resinate so strongly with that meme. Being able to multitask can be a gift right? My husband says that he cannot do more than one thing at a time. And I give that statement a review of 5 stars. Very truthful comment, Mike! So although multitasking is a skill that some husbands even envy about their wives...it's important to remember to not spread yourself too thin. Seems like common sense, but the pressure sometimes feels endless to be perfect and we just do too much. Remember to stop, prioritize what's going on in that moment and close all the unnecessary windows. It's just a lot of noise
A warm and fuzzy blog post would say something like...there is beauty to be found in the chaos of crafting and mothering at the same time. This isn't that blog ;) I will say that finding a balance is important so that you can be the kind of mom you want to be, while doing the thing you enjoy and brings you happiness; in my case crafting. When your kids look back at their childhood and remember their "crazy crafty mom" you want to be remembered as fun and kind - not frustrated, angry and annoyed. Maybe this means setting real "office hours" for yourself so that you really can focus on projects. Maybe it means scheduling time for you and kiddos to craft together, so they feel like a focus in that craft room sometimes. Or maybe it just means you need to stop, take a breath, look at their tiny hands and close some mental windows. Whatever step you take, the chaos and the crafting can coexist. Just gotta figure out what works for you! Either way, keep crafting!!!
Take Care,
Lisa