I have a confession to make. Years ago, when I was interviewing moms who were pursuing creative careers while raising kids, I was secretly writing my own story.

There I was, recorder in hand, asking these amazing women how they managed to squeeze meetings between soccer practices or design beautiful spaces while simultaneously managing homework. All the while, I was nodding along, thinking, “Yes, but HOW do you actually make it work?” Because I was right there in the trenches with them.

The Juggling Act Nobody Prepared Me For

Let’s be real — nobody hands you a manual for balancing creative ambitions with parenthood. There’s no So You Want to Be a Writer and a Mom guidebook (though seriously, someone should write that).

What I’ve learned along the way wasn’t from any parenting book or career seminar. It was from those 2 AM moments when I’d finally gotten the baby back to sleep and found myself with a choice: crawl back to bed or spend 30 precious minutes working on that article that had been swirling in my head all day.

Often, I chose the article. Not because I didn’t desperately need sleep (trust me, I did!), but because those stolen moments of creativity kept a vital part of myself alive and thriving.

The Surprising Superpowers of Mom-Creatives

When my older kids were small, I thought I had stay home with them and sacrifice my career aspirations to be a “good mom.” So I freelanced and only took on projects that were mom-friendly. When I became a single mom, I didn’t have a choice about working full time…and I realized that I didn’t have to make a choice between motherhood and career. I was happier doing what I loved, my kids were okay without me, and I was setting a great example for them by pursuing my ambitions.

Here’s what I found when I returned to the workforce that nobody tells you — motherhood actually gave me creative superpowers I never had before:

I became ruthlessly efficient. Pre-kids, I could spend an entire afternoon “getting in the zone” before writing a single word. Post-kids? I can write a compelling intro while the pasta water boils. When you only have 20-minute pockets scattered throughout your day, you learn to dive in without hesitation.

My BS detector got seriously upgraded. Kids have zero tolerance for pretense, and that honesty rubbed off on my work. I found myself cutting through fluff and getting to the heart of things much faster, both in my writing and in my approach to projects.

I stopped waiting for “perfect conditions.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve written something meaningful while sitting in a parked car during dance class or waiting at the pediatrician’s office… well, I’d have enough for a very nice solo writing retreat!

The Truth Nobody Wants to Admit

Here’s something I wish someone had told me earlier: the supposed “choice” between being fully devoted to your kids OR fully committed to your creative work is a false one. It’s a story we’ve been sold that doesn’t reflect reality.

Some days, I’m a better mom because I’ve had that hour to write and fill my creative well. Other days, I’m a better writer because I’ve spent the afternoon playing pretend and seeing the world through my kids’ eyes.

The messy, beautiful truth is that these parts of my life don’t compete — they complete each other. Every story about resilience I write is deeper because I’ve witnessed my child fall and get back up a hundred times. Every creative solution I bring to a project is more innovative because motherhood has taught me to think outside every box imaginable.

So, to the mom hiding in the bathroom to jot down ideas on her phone, or scheduling calls during nap time, or editing photos after bedtime — I see you. We’re writing our stories together, one beautiful, chaotic day at a time. And these stories? They’re so much richer for containing all the parts of who we are.