Creativity and Motherhood
I’m not sure there is any other way of describing motherhood without using creativity. My daughter is a spunky, delightful, and opinionated one-year-old. Just the other day, she did not want to put her shoes on. And while I value her independence and her ability to express her will, sometimes we just have to put our shoes on. So, I had to get creative—and fast—before the meltdown happened. I put her white socks on my hands and started making ghost sounds, like, “Ooh, the sock ghost is going to get you, boo!” Then, I managed to wrangle her cute little feet into her socks as she giggled and giggled.
Thinking quickly on my feet is a skill I keep learning as a mom, but I’ve realized that a creative mindset is key. It’s fun for kids, and it’s a mindset I want to instill in my daughter. I want her to be curious, inquisitive, and thoughtful. In motherhood, creativity becomes more than just an art—it becomes a tool for nurturing empathy, problem-solving, and curiosity.
Creative Routines
Our everyday routines offer the perfect opportunities to instill creative outlets for a curious toddler. We draw almost every day. I love getting on the floor with my toddler, spreading out a giant sketchpad and crayons. She colors on herself too, and I don’t care! We scribble and doodle, we write notes to friends and family. We read books and dive into the worlds that authors and illustrators have created for us. We go on nature walks, pick up acorns, look at leaves, name the butterflies and flowers, and sometimes even try to eat rocks... But she’s out in nature. She’s learning about the beautiful world around her, and it fills my heart to see her curious side. She points to trees and leaves with such joy, as if she’s seeing them for the first time. That joy is contagious. I want to bottle it up, to notice the small things in life more often—the ones that fill my soul with joy.
Creativity and Problem-Solving
As a mom, problem-solving takes creativity and adaptability. An eager, curious toddler loves to get into things she shouldn’t, so I’m constantly coming up with creative solutions on the fly to keep her safe until I can baby-proof properly. Finding creative approaches to solve problems is key in design too. You have to look at a problem from another’s point of view.
Creativity and Empathy
Beyond play and problem-solving, creativity is also a way to foster empathy and compassion in my daughter. Creativity sparks empathy, encouraging us to think about others and the world around us. Through creative play and exploration, I hope to give my daughter the space to develop her own likes and dislikes. In time, I hope she’ll understand that creativity can be a way of caring for others—a way to connect with people and nature. Creativity encourages her to imagine possibilities not just for herself but for those around her, sparking a kind of empathy that I hope will grow with her.
Creativity and empathy are deeply connected because both involve seeing the world from different perspectives. When we’re creative—whether it’s through art, storytelling, problem-solving, or imaginative play—we’re often thinking beyond ourselves and considering our audience. This act of envisioning what might be or how others might feel strengthens our ability to empathize.
Through my design work, I hope to connect others with nature and the beauty of the small things in life, like watching a monarch butterfly grow from an egg to an adult in just weeks. It’s such a joy to get my toddler outside and watch her curiosity for the smallest things, like tiny rocks or acorns.
Creative Mindset
Creativity isn’t just about producing art; it’s a mindset that enriches both my work and my role as a mother. Whether it’s getting my daughter to wear her shoes or finding a fresh take on a branding project, creativity is all about solving problems big and small. I want my daughter to know that creativity is a mindset and a lifestyle. She can do anything she sets her mind to; believe me, that toddler-will is strong. And as her biggest advocate, I’ll be cheering her on every step of the way. Motherhood is its own kind of creativity—a journey that encourages me to be more present, more imaginative, and more open to new perspectives every day.
Motherhood has only made my life immensely better. By giving my toddler the space to be creative, I hope she’ll have a fulfilling, warm, and nurturing childhood and, one day, a career that aligns with her interests, supported by an empathetic heart to do good in the world. By giving her a space to be creative now, I know she’ll move mountains one day.
