Balancing Work, Parenting, and Creativity

Children seek parental attention every day, especially from their mothers. As working parents, we are constantly balancing professional and parenting responsibilities. I had not sketched in a long time, so I picked up my sketch book, while Shloka, my daughter, was busy with her playdough. The moment she saw me with my book, she came running and said, ‘Amma I will draw’. I told her, ‘You draw in your book, and I will draw in mine’. She was not convinced; she wanted my book. She sat beside me while I browsed my Pinterest folder for drawing ideas. A handprint doodle came up randomly, and it occurred to me, why not draw Shloka’s handprint?

I asked her to place her hand in my sketch book, and she was thrilled. I traced her hand outline, and rest of the time she hovered around me, curious to see what I will do next with the outline of her hand. I doodled it. She was excited that Amma is doing something connected to her. She observed me closely. This was not only about sketching, but it was also about sharing a moment with my daughter, my creativity meeting her curiosity. 

The next day, I traced her footprint. As before, she was excited and followed me closely. Soon, she would tell me to put my hand on her book and try to make outlines of my hand.

Parenting articles suggest involving children in your daily activities, so they learn by doing. This simple activity gave me space to sketch while keeping her engaged. Sometimes children may join in, sometimes they may make a mess, but either way, they are learning.