Raising children is like baking bread: it has to be a slow process or you end up with an overdone crust and an underdone interior. ~ Madeline Cox
Last week, I spent hours every day on my feet, in a chair, but mostly on the floor trying to come up with ways to entertain my grandson, an almost-8-month-old who thinks he can walk (and pretty much can with support) and who views his world as a place of constant surprise and discovery. 
Besides the tried and true oldies like peek-a-boo, itsy bitsy spider, and Dr. Seuss, we also came up with pull-the-toy-off-daddy’s head, watch-the-tape-measure-retract, and chugga-chugga-choo-choo. Actually, Andrew’s mom and dad came up with those ideas.
And I was reminded how much creativity is involved in being a parent.
Parenting is the act of bringing up and caring for a child. But a parent is also the source or origin… not just of children, but of projects and enterprises, which implies a responsibility care and upbringing. But what does that mean for our creative children, our books and products and programs?
It means:
- Practicing patience. As much as Andrew wants to walk, until his body and balance are fully developed, he can’t. So I practiced patience as I bent over to let him hold onto my fingers so he could maneuver around the room on his feet, because crawling just didn’t work for him. Creative work requires time and patience, too, before it is ready to walk out into the world. Too often we want to rush it, give it a push to get it moving…but all that does is ensure a fall.
- Relying on instincts. My daughter-in-law, Mindy, has numerous books on child-rearing and development that she refers to for information and guidance. But ultimately,she and our son, Stephen have to trust their instincts to know what is working for Andrew and what isn’t, when he is happy and when he isn’t and why he isn’t. You have to trust your instincts with your creative work to determine what is working and what isn’t and why. And, as with Andrew, you have to trust your instincts to know when what seems not to be working is just a prelude to a breakthrough.
- Letting go of expectations. Andrew weighs less than other infants his age. But he is doing more than others, like crawling and trying to walk. While there are the “norms” set by someone somewhere, each child is uniquely his- or herself. The same is true for each of our creative projects. So maybe that last book I wrote just flowed, but this one is taking forever. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the book or me, but rather that this book is uniquely itself and has its own rhythms and timeline for development.
- Seeing things with fresh eyes. I don’t know how many times in the past week, I’ve experienced something with new eyes because of seeing them as Andrew must, such as his fascination with fingers or the puzzle of reflections in a mirror. Likewise, each creative project or enterprise challenges us look at things anew, to really look, not just with our physical eyes but with our inner eye as well.
- Nurturing with love. I can’t fully express the joy and love that fill my heart when I hold that little boy or hear him laugh. And because I love him, everything I do when I am with him is with his welfare and happiness in mind. Hopefully, you are creating and nurturing your creations from a place of love, as well, always doing the best you can to allow your creativity and creative work to flourish and grow to its utmost.
Parenting is not an easy job. Let me repeat that. Parenting is NOT an easy job. But Mindy and Stephen are giving their whole selves to the task. And it shows in every one of Andrew’s smiles, in the easy way he goes down for his naps and bedtime, in his delight with eating, and his ease with everyone.
Are you giving your whole self to the parenting of your creative work?