Creative Family

built for each other

2009-12-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

We were built for each other

my family and I

pins and axles

wheels and cogs

dreaming dreams

singing songs

We were built for each other

my family and I

some of us met

some were born

some are friends

some are more

We were built for each other

my family and I

we are a spread out, tangled thing

enough to make you laugh, cry, and sing

to feel, love, take, and give

these are the means through which we live

We were built for each other

my family and I

we are a nebulous, hand woven web

the needs we meet, the wounds we mend

the hurts we heal, the love we need

we give, we love, we laugh, we sing

somewhere between our dreams take wing

Mama at 2 Months

2009-11-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

I have found the transition into Motherhood to be much like a tornado, which I predicted in my August post. It is as intense as I hoped and feared. I wrote to a friend about the tumultuousness of my feelings and she said to put it out there to the universe, release it, ie. in blog form, so. . .

The desperation of sleeplessness has eased. The joy of motherhood has increased with Ella's smiles and ever evolving noises. Today she gave her papa and I a fabulous concert of noises low and high, amazing squeaks and coos and goos and other miracles of oration for a babe of two months. Her papa and I looked at each other and agreed she must be a genius. Now I understand how proud parents have felt through the ages. One really does feel that her child must be the most amazing creature on the planet.

I am beginning to think about getting my personal sense of balance back. I am trying to remember what I do that makes me happy besides making my baby smile. Music. Creativity. Reading. Movies. Nature places. Point Reyes. Gypsy like journeys. Great coffee. Friends. Writing. Making love. Touch. Accomplishing goals. Shopping. Daydreaming.

Some of these are more accesible to a new mother than others. But then again, for every small and large thing I have given up during these first couple of months of motherhood, there is the incredibly full experience of starting my family to fill the gap. I am curious to see what my life will be through the days and years of motherhood. I am trying to take things day by day and open my heart to the spirit of change and growth.

Poem for Ella (2 Months)

2009-11-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a sweet and silly poem I wrote about my daughter Ella, at 2 months:

We have a new room-mate and she's kind of funny

She doesn't care about cleaning, or making money

She loves to eat, she likes to talk

She wants to be held around the clock

We didn't exactly plan on her stay

But we love to watch her change, day by day

Her smile is the brightest light in the world

Her soul's as pure as an ocean pearl

She's a little young to lose all her hair

We're curious to see what will come to bear

She'll change a lot within a year

By then we'll have seen lots of smiles and tears

She's not the most polite person I've met

She burps and farts and cries and frets

But we're so happy she decided to come

She's our star, our moon, our sky, our sun

Sometimes I feel lost in a beautiful tornado

2009-08-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel lost in a beautiful tornado.

I try to embrace this change. I know that the future is bright and beautiful, that this path holds more growth and richness than I could have ever created in an isolated existence. But I am in the heart of it, and about to plunge twice as deep in an already bottomless abyss- or hightless sky- into this change. I am about to meet my child.

The words sounds surreal. I am about to meet my child. My child? This was not what I planned, or ever envisioned. I thought about it because I am a woman and I have the ability to produce a child. But no experience skirted the edge of motherhood. I am a nurturer, a giver, I love giving love and receiving it. So I know I will be a great mother. But so much of my existence, thought, soul, creativity, even body was shaped by my basic solitude. It did not always bring me happiness, and brought me these same depths of emotions that I am in right now at about the same frequency.

That is why I believe that life grows in a circle which contains all experience and emotions- sadness, joy, everything in between and on the sides, above, below- and the communication of the depth of this experience is the heart of life.

Are You Out There?

2009-08-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

This was the original post that I wrote to an email group of mothers that I belong to. The responses I received inspired the creative of the Creative Family Blog:

"Maybe it is the fact that I will be a mother in 9 weeks. I am up early this morning feeling a need for the community of women in music. I want to be inspired by other mothers who are making music and other forms of art. The idea of motherhood brings so much richness to the table. Suddenly I am contemplating a shift from writing songs about emptiness to writing songs about an almost overwhelming fullness. It is no secret that becoming a mother is a profound identity shift. How do creative professionals adapt and embrace the change of motherhood?

In many ways I feel that this transition into motherhood is a lush ripening of the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Everything changes on every front- physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. It is a beautiful and mind-boggling transition. It is healthy for one such as I who have spent so much time in the realm of thought to have my mind boggled by something so cosmic as having a child growing inside of me.

I would love to hear the thoughts of other creative mothers on this transition. Are you out there?"

Welcome to Creative Family Connect

2009-08-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

Hi!

The purpose of this blog is to provide a place where creative families can connect with one another. I am interested in sharing ideas and thoughts with creative individuals who are raising families. I am also interested in hearing from the creative children of these families.

The idea for this blog came about when I was pregnant with my first child. I am a musician and writer, and the experience of being pregnant catapulted me into a whole new definition of creativity. My body was creating a baby, and I was pouring creative energy into ideas about my new family life. I was beginning to experience the identity shift of becoming a mother, and the transition was strange and powerful. I couldn't help but wonder what would become of my former creative self as the transition into motherhood evolved.

I have an intense curiosity about how other creative people have integrated their artistic selves into family life.

I want to hear from you, creative mothers and fathers and children!

I hope you will connect with a community of creative families through this Creative Family Connect Blog. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Alison Harris