Balancing Motherhood and Creativity: How I Make Space for Both

Creativity has always been important to me—or at least, I think it has. Performance was definitely a huge part of my life growing up, but when I think back, I realize creativity was there in other ways, too. I loved decorating my room as a kid, making things my own, designing and curating little spaces that felt special to me. Creativity wasn’t just about acting or storytelling; it was about expression in any form.

But as I got older, I started to believe that creativity had to fit into neat categories—either you were a career artist, or it was just a hobby. Either you went all in, or you set it aside. And when I became a mom, those lines felt even sharper. There was this unspoken pressure to choose: was I a stay-at-home mom or a working mom? Was I putting my kids first or my passions? It felt like an either-or decision, and for a while, I convinced myself I had to pick a side.

When I held Margo for the first time in the hospital, I was ready to give it all up. I looked at her tiny face, overwhelmed with love, and thought, I just want to be a mom. I don’t want to act anymore. I don’t need to make films. I’m just going to be a mom. In that moment, it felt like enough. More than enough.

As I've battled this question for several years, trying to figure out which box I can neatly package myself into, a new question has emerged. What if motherhood and creativity aren’t opposing forces but pieces of the same calling? What if the work we do and the way we mother are deeply intertwined, each shaping and fueling the other? What if there’s another way to think about it—one that doesn’t demand a label or a box, but instead invites us to live fully into both?

And so, I’ve been learning how to walk that path. How to make space for both. How to let go of the pressure to define myself by categories that were never meant to confine me. Here’s how I’m trying to do that.

Motherhood Didn’t Make Me More Creative—It Changed My Why

My creative outlets are acting, directing, photography, writing, and design. I love all aspects of it—graphic design, web design, storytelling. Motherhood didn’t necessarily make me more creative, but it shifted my focus. It made me realize that creativity is a gift from God, something I’m stewarding. It’s not just about self-expression; it’s about reflecting Him. I’ve always wanted my work to honor God, but after becoming a mom, I care even more about making content that brings glory to His name. I don’t want to expand other kingdoms—I want to expand His.

The Challenge of Finding Time for Creativity as a Mom: Balancing Motherhood and Creativity

One of the biggest challenges I face in balancing motherhood and creativity is time management. Some work tasks are easy to fit into small pockets of time—meetings, emails, planning. But creativity? That’s different. You can’t just sit down and pour yourself into something for 15 minutes and expect to be fully immersed in it. Creativity requires momentum, larger chunks of time where you can get into a flow and stay there. That’s hard to come by when you’re in the thick of it with toddlers.

Right now, I work early in the morning, during nap times and after bedtime, but I’m learning to fit it into my days as well. As my girls grow and become more independent, I’ve been able to carve out bigger stretches of time. And I try to bring them into my work whenever I can—explaining what I’m doing, asking for their ideas, inviting them into the creative process in small ways. It’s important to me that they see what I do, that they understand why I create, and that they know creativity is a gift God gives us to be used for His glory.

But let’s be real—there are also moments when I just need space. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, Can I just have one hour? Just one hour where I can sit and think and create without interruption? And I remind myself that I’m human. That balance is something I’m still working on. That God sees the struggle and the effort, and He gives grace for it.

Creativity in Motherhood: Revealing God’s Character

Motherhood itself is a deeply creative calling. Every teaching moment, every act of discipline, every answered question, every activity—it’s all an opportunity to reveal God’s character to our children. And that requires more creativity than we often realize.

Creativity in mothering isn’t just about planning fun crafts or coming up with engaging activities (though those can be great too). It’s about the way we communicate truth, the way we guide our children’s hearts, and the way we model Christ’s love. It takes creativity to turn a tantrum into a lesson on patience, to answer deep questions about God in a way a child can grasp, to weave scripture into everyday life so naturally that it becomes a foundation rather than a forced addition.

When we look at motherhood this way, we begin to see that creativity isn’t separate from it—it’s infused into every part of it. God, the ultimate Creator, designed us to reflect Him in both the way we create and the way we nurture. And in that sense, mothering is one of the most creative things we’ll ever do.

Creativity as Worship

I firmly believe that stewarding creativity is a way to glorify God. As image-bearers, we’re called to excellence in our work, to reflect His character in what we create. It’s not just about making something beautiful—it’s about making something meaningful. It’s about crafting stories, performances, and designs that reveal truth, that move people, that point them back to Him.

I’ve had moments where I’ve seen how God uses creativity to impact others. When people watch a film I’ve acted in and tell me they were moved, that it stopped them in their tracks, that it made them see something in a new way—that’s a gift. That’s God using something small and turning it into something bigger. With Pursuit of Freedom, playing Anna was more than just a role; it was an opportunity to step into someone else’s story and let others learn from it. That’s the power of storytelling. That’s the beauty of creativity when it’s surrendered to Him.

Encouragement for Moms Who Feel Like They’ve Lost Themselves

If you’re a mom who feels like you’ve lost yourself in this season of raising little ones, I promise you haven’t. God is using this time to draw you closer to Him, to teach you things you need to learn for whatever He has planned next. If He’s saying “not right now” to certain dreams or creative pursuits, trust that He has a reason. This season is not wasted.

You don’t have to hustle to make it all fit if God is calling you to simply be right now. That is actually a gift from Him. You get to rest in the work He’s doing in you. He’s teaching you what it means to sacrifice, to give of yourself for your children, to model love and patience in a way that mirrors Him––let this season be one where your creativity can thrive. And when the time is right, the other work will come.

But for now? Enjoy this season. Learn what He’s teaching you. And know that when He’s ready for you to step into the next thing, He’ll make a way.