Becoming a Mother again on Mother’s Day

And my official Maternity Leave announcement!

It’s been a life-changing two weeks which began on the evening of May 8th, Mother’s Day, and the start of my daughter’s life in this big crazy world. Today was her official due date, and it’s surreal to imagine an alternate reality in which the past two weeks with her have yet to have happened. But here we are, adjusting to the new normal and bonding with our newborn.

Today is a bluebell day and the first week going it alone while my husband returns to work after a short paternity leave. Fortunately, our 3 year old is in preschool and I have some time to attend to the baby and household chores with little interruption. With a number of “nesting” projects out of the way I’ve found my mind wandering back to the studio wishing I had more energy to get in there when time allows. 

For now, I’m simply embracing creative inactivity as part of new motherhood and napping when I can. I am also thinking of small projects to tackle when I do have a moment or two to break away. Continuing my character sketches and sketchbook of plants and animals will probably be my priority. Those can be quick and can be abandoned hastily if the baby begins to howl. Also, designing tear sheets to send to agents and publishers and building my email list will be a perfect time filler- if ever there is time to be filled!

My maternity leave will end in September giving me almost four solid months with Ona (“Oh-nuh” Lithuanian for Anna), and from there I’ll be in the studio four days a week. To be honest it’s difficult to see the inertia slow to a standstill. I knew it would be. When working towards your most ambitious goals time has that funny tendency to stagnate in the moment. It’s a trick of the mind that from where you currently stand nothing you’ve done feels like it’s enough or that your dreams will always be out of reach. What you’re doing holds value. Continue to do it and to work hard at it because you WILL get noticed and hard work pays off!