Too tired to create.

[lfarist]

Thanks guys for all the good advice!

[Avena Cash]

Use Her Name not very many men had freedom to be artists either--if they weren't upper class and it wasn't paying the bills then it wasn't happening for them at all. The time and materials for either gender to learn the skills before earning income have been rather a luxury item, really.

It's hard to be caught in the middle of the competition for your time between things you love so much. We have four children, including twins, and one with autism, and homeschool. The youngest is now nine years old so even with all that I have a fair bit of creative time, with financial security being the bigger challenge. I sell some really nice OOAK craft items of my own design but it takes up so much time. It's creative but not quite my passion, but it's successful with reliable sales income. My every hour seems wanted for something between that and family, and I want to "waste" it painting.

Give your children your time as much as you can now, it really goes quickly. It's okay to wait a while on the art, pick it up a little here and there. It's been a lot like riding a bicycle for me, you don't really lose it. (But don't let it sit too long )

[lfarist]

Thank you Avena Cash for you advice. I can appreciate that everyone may not have the time to follow their dreams. My husband being a truck driver can attest to that. His job is long and physically demanding. When he is home is time is divided between rest, family, and chores. The most I can do at any one time is draw with pencil. It's quick and easy and most importantly to any mother....easy to clean up.

[creativechrissy]

Ifarist I think it is extremely important where possible to steal some 'art' time, as this is for YOU. Men might go out on the boat, play golf or even sit at their computer playing games, but they are having their time. I think we still struggle with valuing art is not only our passion and part of who we are, but that it is a hobby, therapeutic and an outlet.

I have a 2.5yr old and every now and then I steel an hour or two when she has her [occasional] afternoon sleep on the weekend as I now work full time. Sometimes I will paint for an hour or two at night after she is in bed. But I know now and have come to accept that my focus is now on family. However that does not mean giving up part of you!

So as other have suggest, get your creativity out through your children. My blog as some examples, pavement chalk art, lino print with kids, of course painting etc.

Dont despair, right now you have a real little one -4months -of course you are not just tire but exhausted...you are still waking at night and have the demands of a baby. I know it is frustrating as you feel creative but lack the motivation right now due to motherhood but your time will come. It doesn't hurt to ask a grandparent for an hour or two of 'you' time. Or hubby, have a sharing system, one weekend for an arvo or morning it is you time the other it is him time etc.

Now that I am working full time, I am too tire to create too...but I find it is kind of an adrenalin once I drag myself into the studio, put on some music and start, I get my mojo back!

[lfarist]

It's so true! Once I push myself to start drawing or painting I find myself energized to keep going. Often though I regret staying up so late but at this point it really doesn't matter. This is what keeps me sane most days/nights. I love that everyone is helping me here and can relate. I feel less anxious that I'm "missing out". If all I can do is a couple hours of drawing here and there than that's all I can do.

[brushwaggler]

Ilfarist
I recognise these thoughts so much. I too was frustrated trying to be creative whilst bringing up a family, running a home and working jobs that bored me. My answer, in retrospect, would be just to go with the flow. Enjoy your children and the stages they go through. Live your life with them. Every opportunity you get to be creative, use it, but don't force it. One day, these years will become in the past, and who knows, may provide such rich material for your creativity.
I think the suggestion to include your children in the creative process makes a lot of sense. Children love using their imagination and making things. However, if you're tired, you're tired and that's your body's way of saying it's no fuel left and you need to rest. So rest. Don't fight it, you'll just make yourself Ill.
Regards
Brushwaggler

[lfarist]

I've just accepted that the most I can do is work in my sketchbook. If it's not great it's not great. That's just the way it is..

[ianuk]

I don't mean to be facetious but don't the children ever sleep? Surely being so young they go to bed early enough for you to create. I say this because my mother had ten kids and worked on nights. Perhaps she's just a human dynamo as she's eighty two and still works over 40 hours a week. I've never seen her tired though.

[lfarist]

Wow! Your mom sounds like a super hero!! Ten kids alone would make her eligible for sainthood in my book! Alas...it is not so easy for the rest of us. My daughter goes to bed at 8. My son at 4 months does not adhere to my demands for sleep. Babies sleep 14 hrs a day, but only in 4 to 6 increments. So if I'm dumb enough to go to bed at midnight and push myself to draw, which I am, I know full well that my son will be awake sometime between 3am and 6 to eat. Feedings take about 30 mins. Then my 3 year will wake up between 6:30 and 7 am. She does not nap any more so there is no chance of resting until 8pm that night. During the day I am in charge of the entire house. Dishes, laundry, cooking, playing, cleaning, diaper changing, errand runnings, making and going to play dates........all are up to me. My husband is gone four days out of the week so the bulk of the home life is up to me. hence....i'm tired and frustrated....lol.

[ianuk]

hmmm. I genuinely sympathize with you. Isn't there anything you can give them to sleep (something safe of course) not a knock on the head!

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by ianuk

hmmm. I genuinely sympathize with you. Isn't there anything you can give them to sleep (something safe of course) not a knock on the head!

You are kidding right?
OP - try mothering forums. It's kind of quiet there since they stopped the magazine, but there is a fabulous post on there you should read for a good laugh: http://www.mothering.com/community/t...enting-stuff-v

[ianuk]

Originally Posted by AllisonR

You are kidding right?

Of course I was. Trying to lighten things for the tired mum, poor lady needs some light refreshment

[lfarist]

Lol! There are times when I'm the one who needs a knock on the head and stiff drink!

Thanks all for the humor! Much needed and much appreciated since even as we speak, I went to bed at midnight (due to drawing) and my daughter was up at 3 am. She was still awake when my son woke up for his feeding at 4. Now my daughter is in her bed, hopefully sleeping, and I can hear my son "talking" in his crib. It is now 5. I pray to God that they will sleep past 7 am so I can have a few more hours of sleep!

[Yellow Ogre]

I work a month on / month off. When I am working, I struggle to find the energy to be artistic as I work 12 hr days for 28 days with no days off. My artistic urge generally disappears at the end of the day, so I paint/draw before I go to work when i still have energy left

When I am home, I struggle to have the discipline to paint every day.

[InkyEss]

Originally Posted by lfarist

I'm a mother of two small children and not surprisingly I'm tired all the time. I'm super frustrated because I cannot seem to find the balance between time spent creating art and my home life. What do others do to find balance in their lives? What do you do when you're just too tired to create but still want to?

Enjoy those little ones while they're young - they grow so very fast. To find balance you just prioritise, housework is always there and never ending so just do the absolute necessary and skip some. (In my case I skipped as much as was humanly possible lol). Sketch whenever and wherever, and include the kids in your activities - especially as they grow they will love sketching along with you.

I still have sketch pads from years ago that I filled when my kids were young, many pages have been 'added to' and embellished by the youngsters themselves. These are the sketches that I treasure the most because they contain so many wonderful memories as well as the first creative endeavours of my young ones.

As your children grow you will have more and more time for your own creative processes. Enjoy this time now, it's the best ever.