Thank you for pouring your heart out. It is so easy as an artist and parent to lose yourself in so many different ways. My children are 14 & 7 & I am constantly pulling myself out of the hole. And when I do, my work has suddenly evolved — has its own heart & lungs.
Thank you Chelsey, this is so affirming to hear from a fellow mum and creative. I am also often emerging from the hole haha and I agree that we always come out the other end with new strength and points of view to bring to our art and our life. Thanks for reading x
Love this so much, we need way more creative people chatting openly about parenthood. I have followed you for many many years and love when you post about being a mom while still trying to create. My creative biz is a side gig (photography and collage artwork) and I love when my son participates - even when it turns to a struggle. I brought him to a market to help me sell my art this year and it was great, but the last hour boy did he get grumpy 😅 BUT now he offers to come with me next time I go. I don't really have any real point here but just want to say that it's also worth it to integrate them into YOUR life too, frickin hard as it may be. I feel we have catered to kids for so long now we forgot that in reality they also need to integrate into the family system as a whole too. Which means participating in mom and dad's stuff as well...
So true Trish! Thank you for this advice and reminder too - we tend to craft our whole lives around our son and it is good to also try and get them involved in your life too. I really hope that Luca is into photography and making videos and I love that your son came to the markets with you that is incredible! It’s really cool to hear how other parents, and definitely mums balance everything and get through it with their hobbies and identity in tact. Thanks for reading and being here Trish! X
Parenthood is something that I've never experienced for myself - mostly by choice but partly by circumstances I couldn't control fully. That ship sailed long ago and I know I've missed out on all the emotions and joy that being a dad might have provided. I know how much my parents (ordinary, working-class people) gave up to keep our family together, so I have enormous respect for those who commit a huge part of their life to looking after the next generation. Best wishes to you and your family, Lucy. All you can do is be good to one another and, if you are, I'm sure that the rest will take care of itself.
Thanks for reading Paul and sharing your situation and thoughts. I always wanted to be a mum so I feel grateful to have met lux and now have our son. It’s much more challenging than I expected and the stress of being responsible can be difficult…
I love your advice because it’s so true, children just need love and kindness. Thanks for your kind words and for reading this newsletter. Take care ❤️
I’m photographer and a parent to triplets. The best analogy I ever saw was in Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse. The scene is where Miles is watching OG Spider-Man fight The Green Goblin, The Prowler, AND trying to disarm a reality-destroying machine. All this chaos is happening, Spider-Man gets knocked down underneath the spinning machine, he takes a deep sigh and says, “Ugh, I’m so tired.” Every time I’m like,”THAT! That’s what it feels like!”
On another note though, I wonder what your thoughts are being a photographer with kids in this digital age. Specifically, how do you feel about posting your child’s face online with the threat of someone taking it and using it for AI, advertising, or much worst? I’ve read various stories and I’m personally too paranoid. My struggle to document my life as a parent hit this wall and I came to a happy compromise of focusing on still life so that I can still share my journey publicly.
Haha thank you! I’m glad it’s resonated and you see the humour. I felt bad for being super honest but I think it’s better to be that way about parenting and children cause it’s not all sunshine and rainbows 🌈
It’s a struggle, I’m 35(started young) with 4 kids, ranging from 3 months old to 15 years old….always this tension of needing that time to create and your family needing you to be present. It sucks but it does make the art richer. We love our kids and often are wondering what life would like without them. Not that we regret having our kids but the curiosity of if I was able to put all my time into it, what could I produce?? Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for pouring your heart out. It is so easy as an artist and parent to lose yourself in so many different ways. My children are 14 & 7 & I am constantly pulling myself out of the hole. And when I do, my work has suddenly evolved — has its own heart & lungs.
Thank you Chelsey, this is so affirming to hear from a fellow mum and creative. I am also often emerging from the hole haha and I agree that we always come out the other end with new strength and points of view to bring to our art and our life. Thanks for reading x
Love this so much, we need way more creative people chatting openly about parenthood. I have followed you for many many years and love when you post about being a mom while still trying to create. My creative biz is a side gig (photography and collage artwork) and I love when my son participates - even when it turns to a struggle. I brought him to a market to help me sell my art this year and it was great, but the last hour boy did he get grumpy 😅 BUT now he offers to come with me next time I go. I don't really have any real point here but just want to say that it's also worth it to integrate them into YOUR life too, frickin hard as it may be. I feel we have catered to kids for so long now we forgot that in reality they also need to integrate into the family system as a whole too. Which means participating in mom and dad's stuff as well...
So true Trish! Thank you for this advice and reminder too - we tend to craft our whole lives around our son and it is good to also try and get them involved in your life too. I really hope that Luca is into photography and making videos and I love that your son came to the markets with you that is incredible! It’s really cool to hear how other parents, and definitely mums balance everything and get through it with their hobbies and identity in tact. Thanks for reading and being here Trish! X
Parenthood is something that I've never experienced for myself - mostly by choice but partly by circumstances I couldn't control fully. That ship sailed long ago and I know I've missed out on all the emotions and joy that being a dad might have provided. I know how much my parents (ordinary, working-class people) gave up to keep our family together, so I have enormous respect for those who commit a huge part of their life to looking after the next generation. Best wishes to you and your family, Lucy. All you can do is be good to one another and, if you are, I'm sure that the rest will take care of itself.
Thanks for reading Paul and sharing your situation and thoughts. I always wanted to be a mum so I feel grateful to have met lux and now have our son. It’s much more challenging than I expected and the stress of being responsible can be difficult…
I love your advice because it’s so true, children just need love and kindness. Thanks for your kind words and for reading this newsletter. Take care ❤️
I’m photographer and a parent to triplets. The best analogy I ever saw was in Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse. The scene is where Miles is watching OG Spider-Man fight The Green Goblin, The Prowler, AND trying to disarm a reality-destroying machine. All this chaos is happening, Spider-Man gets knocked down underneath the spinning machine, he takes a deep sigh and says, “Ugh, I’m so tired.” Every time I’m like,”THAT! That’s what it feels like!”
On another note though, I wonder what your thoughts are being a photographer with kids in this digital age. Specifically, how do you feel about posting your child’s face online with the threat of someone taking it and using it for AI, advertising, or much worst? I’ve read various stories and I’m personally too paranoid. My struggle to document my life as a parent hit this wall and I came to a happy compromise of focusing on still life so that I can still share my journey publicly.
Oh that is a fantastic analogy LOL! Love it.
Haha thank you! I’m glad it’s resonated and you see the humour. I felt bad for being super honest but I think it’s better to be that way about parenting and children cause it’s not all sunshine and rainbows 🌈
It’s a struggle, I’m 35(started young) with 4 kids, ranging from 3 months old to 15 years old….always this tension of needing that time to create and your family needing you to be present. It sucks but it does make the art richer. We love our kids and often are wondering what life would like without them. Not that we regret having our kids but the curiosity of if I was able to put all my time into it, what could I produce?? Thanks for sharing.
I've noticed that parenthood doesn't change people; it makes them more of who they are. The safety net is gone, forcing them to make choices.
Much like the cliffhangers at the end of TV shows, it keeps you tuned into your life.