Creative Time and Bloglovin'

I wanted to share a blog post that I wrote for my MOPS blog recently.  I wrote it to share my experience of becoming a new mom and reaching a place where I wanted to be creative again while navigating through early motherhood.  I talk about how it's OK to find your way to spending a little time (however few and far between) to do something that makes you happy.  Follow this link to read my post directly from our MOPS blog or scroll on down.

Also, Misty a la Mode is up on Bloglovin'. Follow me over there along with your other favorite blogs.

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"Lose Yourself In Creativity"

By Misty Stafford

A long time ago, way before I started having children I absolutely loved to create, craft and make all kinds of things. I made jewelry, crocheted and learned to sew. I even started an Etsy shop and sold all of my creations at crafts fairs. It was so fun, relaxing and I was so proud that people admired my work and would pay to own a piece.  Those were also the days when my free time was unlimited to work on what ever I wanted. Weekends, evenings, holidays were all used for time to work on my projects, update my shop site and setting up my little table to sell my goods. And then life happened.  I married my college sweetheart, went back to school, and navigated through a career change.  Not too long after came our first baby – and there went all of my free time, and creative time for that matter.  I don’t think I was too sad about not having a lot of time to create.  I was so involved in being a new mom, taking in every milestone of my baby and most importantly, trying to get some sleep. 

As I was learning to adjust to being a new mom I did manage to find a little bit of a creative outlet like the occasional crocheted baby hat, however those moments were few and far between.  Eventually I felt like I needed more.  I missed sitting down and focusing on a project without being interrupted.  I craved to learn a new skill and try a new pattern.  I think most importantly I wanted to feel a sense of self.  Over the next couple of years I learned more about finding balance in my life while being a stay at home mom.  While motherhood is fulfilling as you watch your babies quickly grow and learn, I think for my own sanity I knew I needed to fit in more creative time.  Thankfully with the support of my husband I slowly started taking a couple of sewing classes starting last year.  Getting this opportunity to get back in the saddle of creating I have finally reached a goal of making my own clothes and wearing them.  The classes and time I had to create helped me feel happy and gave me confidence to take on new skills.  I have loved sewing for the past year and I am excited about what I have been able to make considering my little free time.  I recently decided to start a blog (www.mistyalamode.blogspot.com) to document my projects and to share with my family and friends what I have learned and made.  For me, it’s difficult to put myself  “out there” but I have decided not to care if my projects aren’t perfect.  I am grateful to have the support that I need in order to find a space for something I have been wanting – learning, focusing and creating.

While my two sons are my pride and joy and my most precious “projects,” I know that in order to be a good mommy I need to be happy and to be happy I set aside small slots of time in my hectic schedule to do just that.  It may be an hour here, a half hour there but I’ll take it while I share in the joys (and pitfalls) of being a stay at home mom.  It’s not easy being a mom so I encourage each of you to tap into your curiosity and learn that skill you have always wanted to learn how to do.  Lose yourself in those moments, step away from the craziness, ask for support from your spouse or loved one, take a short class (there’s so much online these days) and get to creating.