I’ve met lots of wonderful women since starting my blog but without doubt one of the nicest is the lovely Sarah Parrott.
Sarah runs Write Sparks, a small business based in South East London which offers creative writing clubs for kids as well as learning support for schools.
In this guest post she talks about how creative writing has helped her cope with the trials and tribulations of parenting, and why she thinks you should try it too.
“Throughout our IVF adventure, a complicated pregnancy and a fairly turbulent time with our son’s medical needs, it was writing (and an unholy number of bourbon biscuits) that kept me going. I bought a cheap notebook early in my pregnancy, which soon became one of the most valuable things I own; filled with writing for Joel, for me to give to him when he grows up, or if he chooses to have children of his own.
I started by writing about my experience of the IVF process, more for myself than for anyone else, but it soon became a book filled with letters, lists, poems, emotional rants, photos, sketches (of very poor quality) and stories for my growing baby. I loved the idea of compiling a book for the baby, but I knew it would also help me to remember the emotions and experiences that otherwise I’d soon forget, once the reality of parenting began.
Once he arrived, I found that having a newborn -and being a newborn mother myself- launched me into an unexpected emotional whirlwind. All of my feelings suddenly felt stronger and harder to contain; I adored my perfect boy and yet I felt lost and drunk on sleep deprivation. Along with regular hair-washing, sensible meal times and a social life, time for writing disappeared. But I found that once the fog of newborn life began to clear, I couldn’t stop writing. I craved a creative release and needed something to reclaim some space for myself.
Often I was writing just a sentence or two, here and there, usually ‘writing’ it in my mind whilst pacing with the pram or bouncing him to sleep in the sling. It helped me to make sense of the onslaught of intense emotions and work through the endless ‘what if’ anxieties that pushed their way in when he pushed his way out. Most of my book for Joel was tapped into my iPhone notes in the early hours of the morning, then written up in 45-second increments during feeds or fleeting nap times. Even now, I find my interior monologue is ‘writing’ something most days- I’m often drafting an Instagram post, lesson idea or story for Joel in my mind when we’re out walking or I’m doing the thousand-yard stare at the playground!
This year, we’ve spent months at home shielding our beautiful boy. Of course, there was never any question that we would do it- I honestly can’t think of a single thing I wouldn’t do to keep him safe. But that’s not to say it’s been easy. My days have never been so busy, and so empty. Again I’ve started to feel like I’m losing myself to motherhood and again I’ve turned to writing to bring myself back. I’m very keen to help other women access the joy and catharsis that writing can bring to their own experiences of motherhood. So, I’ve decided to reignite my online creative writing course for mums. If there has ever been a period of our mothering history that needs documenting, it’s now.
The aim of the course is to help you to create your own book for your children. As an experienced teacher and writing specialist, I’ll help you to become a confident writer and guide you through the process step by step. I’ll give you tasks and inspiration to structure your book, using different forms of writing, and encourage you to find your own way to express your thoughts. You don’t need to have any experience of writing to join us, and you won’t need to commit to a schedule. You’ll be able access the modules at any time of day (or night!) that suits you and your family. By the end of the course, you’ll have a collection of writing to save for your children when they grow up, or just to capture the memories of this bizarre, ‘unprecedented’ time for yourself.”
Sarah Parrott, Write Sparks
https://www.writesparks.co.uk/creative-writing-creative-mothers/
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