5 ways to make the most of your "MamaMoontime"

My friend Sarah shared some thoughts with me the other day.  She told me how she never gets time to do anything creative, because as soon as she does, her children want to come and interrupt, play, seek her attention etc....

I know a little thing or two about getting stuff done, with little ones around!!
There might have been up to 28 of them but my assistant and I always managed a creative thing or two, so I thought I'd share with you a few of my tricks of the trade.
(Yep, being an Early Childhood teacher has given me food for thought for this parenting journey!!)

5 ways to make the most of your "MamaMoontime".

(By the way, the definition of a "MamaMoontime" might need expansion here.  Whilst the 'moontime' or evening time -after children are in bed- is definitely connected to women (energetically and spiritually at least), anytime a woman can find or create space for a creative moment is a 'mamamoontime' for sure!
It might be whilst the children nap, or whilst they play-  it's the creative energy that YOU, mama, expend during this time that is most important!!)

1. INVOKE THE CLEANING CRUSADE

Child sweeping, originally uploaded by gdossor.

• That is, teach your young children that cleaning is fun!!  Get them involved!  Household tasks are such fodder for a young child's imagination and creativity.  They long to be like us so show them how. (Don't believe me?  What is a common theme for play of a young child-  keeping house!!).  My little boy Ned was helping (?!?) me clean the windows of grime yesterday. I have the ''chhh chh" spray and two lots of paper -one for him, one for me- and off we go.  With song of course, "This is the way we wash the windows, wash the windows, wash the windows...."      

Children love to : mop, spray (use water and perhaps a drop of dishwashing liquid or vinegar in a squirty bottle), wipe, soapy bubble the tables, sweep, use a dustpan and brush, fold cloths (see verse below), wash up, put things away in their right 'home', stack cups, carry thing from place to place-  the list is endless!!! 

2. BUILD YOURSELVES A WEEKLY RHYTHM

• Simplify and organise your lives.  One foodshop a week, one trip to the library, one 'errands' day etc, one big 'home cleaning' day, one or two 'washing' days.  Make notes to help yourself remember what needs doing.   Watch all the wasted minutes add up!  Use this time for an extra bit of attention/time for your children eg making a cake together, reading a few extra books, sharing a fun activity.  This alone will relieve the 'mother creative guilt'  that many of us feel when we do something for ourselves.  LET GO of guilt!

3. MAKE YOUR CHILDREN A BASKET OF THEIR OWN VERSION OF YOUR CRAFT GOODIES

1986 Children's Simplicity Machine, originally uploaded by woundupladybug.

• If you, (as my friend Sarah loves to do) like to cross-stitch, pop a small embroidery hoop with a piece of cross-stitch canvas and a cross-stitch needle (threaded by you in advance with their favourite colour) in the basket.   When they ask you what you are doing, simply say "I'm doing Mama work.  You can do your work too if you like"  and direct them to their basket.  Let them explore with a needle and thread.  Help them if they get stuck. More than likely, they will 'do work' for a few minutes then happily retreat into their play, satisfied with their creations and filled up with a bit of attention from Mama bear.

4. TAKE A NAP!!

• Recharge your batteries whilst the children sleep and redirect this energy into your evening creative task.  A nap is a creative lifesaver.  I deem them necessary at least once or twice a week. 

5.  GET YOUR 'CREATIVE BITS' READY

• A bookshelf, a box or heaven forbid, a WHOLE ROOM (a Room of one's own!!)  to leave our magical possessions allows us to pick up and go-create- in a moment's notice.  Guard this like it is a Pot of Gold.  Never allow your little (or big) space to be taken over by hairy monsters (or children or husbands or household storage....)   Make a plan for your week- it can be teeny tiny- but make space in your life daily to at least touch base and give your creative project/thoughts 10 minutes of your time.   

Happy Moontime Creating!!

Note:
Folding cloth verse by Cynthia Aldinger (USA)
(In 2003, Cynthia was the keynote speaker for our Sydney Vital Years and shared this verse and action poem.  It works!!!)

Two corners for you, Two corners for me
 (Adult holds one end, child other.  Show them how to grasp corners of cloth)

The clouds are floating free 
(raise cloth up high and down low, like one of those big parachutes)

One fold, two fold, three fold, four.     One more.
 (Keeping hold of corners, fold your own ends together then together again.  Then fold towards each other (3, 4) and finally lay finished cloth on child's hands to put away).

Teach them how to do it properly in the first place, with love.
 Redo if necessary and they will soon be able to do this with a friend or peer.