Inspiring Creativity

*These are some notes from a lesson I recently gave at Church.*

CREATIVITY IN THE HOME

When I told Robby I was teaching about Creative Things to do as a family in the summertime, he said, “like cleaning your room blindfolded one day, cleaning your room with one hand behind your back one day, cleaning your room while Daddy is spanking your buns one day...?”

Yes. He keeps me laughing.

But I couldn’t have handpicked a topic I am more passionate about than Encouraging Creativity as a Mother. In researching the topic, I quickly filled over 20 pages with quotes about creativity, motherhood, and spending time as a family.

For me, summertime is about saying YES to things you don’t get around to the rest of the year.
· Learning new skills
· Studying the scriptures at a deeper level
· Reading longer books.
· Enjoying the outdoors.
· Making ice cream.

I used to believe I missed out on the creative gene. I connected creativity with an ability to draw, but it really has a lot more to do with allowing yourself to be inspired.

Amanda Soule, writer of The Creative Family wrote, "A large part of nurturing a spirit of creativity comes from being mindful, slowing down, observing, and looking around you at the beauty and inspiration all around…Stop and watch your children often. Really stop and watch, and you’ll see them using such creativity in everything they do."

President Uchdorf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, "After all, was it not the Creator of the worlds who called our attention to the beauty of the lilies of the field, to the power in the tiny mustard seed, and to the leaves on the fig tree?"

Author Anna Quindlen said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”

Elder Oaks of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told the following story. "A friend took his young family on a series of summer vacation trips, including visits to memorable historic sites. At the end of the summer he asked his teenage son which of these good summer activities he enjoyed most. The father learned from the reply, and so did those he told of it. “The thing I liked best this summer,” the boy replied, “was the night you and I laid on the lawn and looked at the stars and talked.”

This story reminded me of something that happened recently with Bubs. We heard an ice cream truck in the neighborhood. His eyes opened wide and he said in wonder, "Someone in my class got to buy ice cream from an ice cream truck once." Ah, the little joys of childhood.

I firmly believe in leaving kids time to explore and treasure these childhood joys.

So, here’s the question. How do we make time for creative play and unscheduled time and not hear the phrase “I’m bored” all the time?

We have to participate. It’s hard, but I think sometimes being a taxi all day is harder.

I recently bought a drawing book from Amazon. When it arrived, I laid it out on the table with three pieces of paper and pencils. The kids quickly realized that I was planning to draw with them. They were so excited. Since then, there’ve been times when the kids asked what they should do, when I said to draw a picture, they didn’t want to unless I was doing it with them. Really though…what’s more important than spending that time with them? They grow up so fast.

We all know that kids model our own behavior. If they see us creating and valuing creative endeavors, they will want to join in. We inspire them by being inspired. We have to do encourage them. Praise their work.

They are natural creators.

We all are.