✨ The Creative MOMent
The Creative MOMent is a section of the Emily Lupita ❤️🔥 Creativity Series where I share creativity prompts for journaling + my own creative journal.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to The Creative MOMent. I’m glad you’re here.
I’d love to start by introducing myself & my family. My husband, Alper, is an engineer. I’m Emily Lupita, an artist & writer…now a full-time Mama & caregiver for our two sons diagnosed with Autism + extraordinary needs. Charlie is seven years old and Archie is four. If we don’t already know each other…it’s great to meet you!
Creativity Prompt: Motherhood + Creativity
Thank you for being here and reading my new creativity newsletter.
It’s taken almost a year for me to get this newsletter off the ground. It went through a few different incarnations before manifesting in this form. It took time and I had some low points (thank you to those beautiful souls who encouraged me to keep going), but now that it’s all ready to go…I love it. I love sitting down to work on it.
It was worth the trial & error to get the feeling and purpose right for this type of big project - now the centerpiece of my creative life. The launch on this September day also corresponds to a new season in my family life, which gives me more creative time than before. Somehow it’s all working out.
There are lessons in the journey to creating this newsletter for me. It’s been a struggle to maintain my creative spirit while also being a new mother and full-time caregiver to my two little boys. They are both diagnosed with nonverbal Autism + exceptionalities (like fine motor disorder, elopement disorder, etc.) and their needs come first.
By that I mean my motherhood motto has been, “Baby First” since the very first moment I held my eldest, Charlie, in my arms. The fact that both boys have had special needs seemed to amplify my focus on providing them with the ultimate wonderful childhood + getting them every resource possible for their disabilities. That’s a beautiful and worthy goal, and my heart is filled with gratitude and love for my boys. Still, I lost myself somewhere.
The picture above with my face to the side, partially cut out of the frame…that’s also how I’ve edited my time and energy…just like that.
What I didn’t understand / couldn’t comprehend until recently- is that putting my children’s needs first includes making my own needs a priority. Because one of the most important needs that my boys have is access to the best version of me, their mother. Also, it is getting easier to carve out time for self-care as the boys get older, so I will give myself some grace for taking so long to get to this place.
This is the balance I seek going forward. This is the everyday intention from here on out. To put my children first and, in doing so, to also allow space & energy for me to be a healthy, happy person. Creativity is the foundation to that wellness for me. I’ll try my best. I feel excited for the good things the future holds.
Journaling
Here are a few journaling prompts to get us started on our creative journey together.
What’s your experience with creativity?
Can you relate to my story about about being a creative person who is also a Mom?
Or maybe your experience is totally different.
How did your journaling session go? Let me know in the comments.
Creative Projects
I’m hoping this will be a place to share & discuss creative ideas and projects. I want readers to always feel comfortable to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. One important thing the global pandemic (and being primarily home-bound with my boys) has taught me is that I value my creative community.
I miss open-mic nights and crafting workshops and going to the local college to hear speakers and watch theatre. And within that lesson is also the realization that I value my own creative work as well. I enjoy painting. I need to write. I feel better when I’m working on a project. I love sharing my artwork and stories with others. That’s how I express my unique gifts. I create alone, but I don’t want to be alone. I love conversation & connection.
What are you working on?
I’d love to hear what creative ideas & projects are happening in your life.
Creative Community
Spreading the good news about projects + publications in my creative community.
Join Kim Conrey and George Weinstein to celebrate the launch of Kim's sci-fi romance STEALING ARES and George's Hardscrabble Road sequel, RETURN TO HARDSCRABBLE ROAD on October 16th from 3pm-6pm at the Red Hare Brewing Company in Marietta, GA. RSVP here.
{George and I are long-time members of The Atlanta Writers Club, where he currently serves as Executive Director.}
THE BOOK OF GOTHEL by Mary McMyne is the story of the medieval midwife who becomes known as the witch from Rapunzel. Set in 12th century Germania, it’s a tale of motherhood, magic, and the stories we pass down to our children. Learn more here.
{Mary and I met in New Orleans in 2007 when we were both winners of the Faulkner Society Creative Writing Competition.}
☀️ Share your reflections
I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections on this post.
Thank you for reading.
Good journey,
❤️🔥 Emily Lupita
Hi Emily,
I loved reading your newsletter!
Yes, we can not be the best mother, if we do not carve time for ourselves
to be the best version for our kids.
For me that crucial time alone is exercise. :)