Creating Me

Today's guest post is by Tara, my sister-in-law! Tara is a California mama to two little girls, a substitute teacher, and an artist. If you want to see some of her work be sure to check out her Etsy shop: geoBright. Her handmade jewelry is phenomenal.
xoxo,
Sarah
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Today I spent an hour painting with my daughters. It is part of an internal project I have going on to pay more attention to my oldest. I think she is a tender child that that feels love from me the most as I spend time with her – hey I guess this isn’t new and most kids are like this!

Putting aside all the wonderful things that I learned about my daughter and the great time I did have with her (she is really a terrifically polite little one) painting palm tree after palm tree with an exploding volcano in the background is not something I would choose to do on my own time.

But like I said... putting that aside, one thing that keeps me going is the idea that I am helping my children develop talents now so that they can do even more creatively-driven things with me later. Selfish? Maybe – but not at the core of it. I want my children to be happy and successful and CREATIVE.

Becoming the mother I am today was a truly difficult process for me. (maybe someday I can guest post again and have a chance to write a little more about some of those difficulties). But somewhere around the time that I started to merge the world of ME and the world of being a MOM, I came across this idea of creativity; and it hit home:

I love being creative. Creativity is central to who I am – as it is with every mother. As a young adult I loved drawing, writing poetry, playing the violin and ceramics. And now I love blogging (once in a while), photography and making jewelry.

And so I create every day, just like every mother. I created my own children (with a little help *wink**wink*). I create ways to sooth them and love them. I create when I play with them. I create when I make dinner. I create when I renovate my home and when I think of the future.

I had to grow and change and develop to become the mother I am now. And I know there is more growth and change ahead. But I get to keep creating. I will keep creating the person who is me and I get to keep creating my own future.

The specifics are a little superfluous. I create. That is me.