Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mural That Took Naptime

I will be returning to the workforce soon and have been reflecting on my recent maternity leave projects. I painted two murals in my children's room—projects I am super proud of. But they weren’t created in some idyllic, light-filled studio with uninterrupted hours of inspiration. No, they were painted during the in-between moments. While the baby napped, I rushed to gather my supplies of paint and brushes, sometimes a wet wipe or two, knowing she could wake up at any second. And yet, somehow, it worked.

This wasn’t always the case. After my first child, I hit a creative slump—a dark era where I would stare at a blank page and feel... nothing. People would encourage me: "Take some time for yourself! Do something creative!" But when I finally had a moment, I’d just stare at them blankly. Me? What do I want to do? After months of thinking about everyone else, that part of my brain felt out of order. Paint? Ugh, I have to set it up... But what would I even paint? And then the spiral: It won’t be good anyway. Why start? I just want to lie down. And then I would, anxiously waiting until my babe came home.

Creativity takes energy and time—two things that new moms notoriously lack. But through motherhood, I’ve unknowingly trained for the ultimate project: running life itself. If anyone in the professional world doubts the skillset gained in parenting, let me clarify. Since becoming a mom, I have achieved expert-level abilities in:

• Multitasking – Can simultaneously feed a baby, answer an email, and stop a toddler from drawing on the wall (except when it’s an approved mural project).

• Ultimate project management – Two kids, two different nap schedules, one household... and I still make it work.

• Logistics mastery – Who needs supply chain training when you’ve managed packing for a family trip?

• System creation – If it saves 30 seconds, I will systematize it.

• Negotiation skills / Conflict Resolution – Ever tried convincing a toddler to do anything? I rest my case. 

• Decision-Making Under Pressure – Choosing the best course of action with minimal information and in record time.

• Adaptability – Plans will change, naps will be skipped, and kids will get sick—pivot like a mom.

• People Management – Managing small, unpredictable, often irrational humans with patience and understanding.

• Endurance & Resilience – Functioning after sleepless nights, making it through challenging days, and still showing up with a smile.

Motherhood doesn’t diminish creativity—it just reshapes it. And while I may not always have endless hours to create, I’ve gained a whole new set of skills that make me more efficient, adaptable, and yes, still creative, even if I didn't do any professional work during this time.

To all the moms who feel stuck in that creative slump: You are not broken. Your creativity isn’t gone—it’s just waiting for the right moment to reemerge, even if that moment happens in 45-minute increments during naptime. 

See the article on LinkedIn.