Crafting My Sanity: How Creativity Keeps Me Grounded as a Mom
The baby days are behind me, but life with a toddler? Still beautifully chaotic. Some days I swear I haven’t had a minute to myself since… well, honestly, I can’t even remember. Between working full time, chasing Autumn around, trying to keep dinner from burning, and keeping up with house chores, I often feel like my “me time” gets buried at the very bottom of the to-do list.
Motherhood is wonderful, but it can also swallow you whole if you’re not careful. Somewhere between wiping sticky fingers, answering emails, and folding laundry, I realized I was losing touch with myself.
And then I rediscovered something that helped me breathe again: crafting.
Why Crafting Became My Lifeline
For me, crafting isn’t about perfection or keeping up with Pinterest trends. It’s about carving out a little space that’s mine in the middle of an always-busy life.
When I sit down to trace a new intarsia design, watch the laser engraver cut out a pattern, or sketch on my iPad after Autumn goes to bed, I feel my shoulders drop. My breathing slows. For a little while, I get to step out of “mom mode” and into something that is just for me.
The repetitive motions of sanding a piece of wood, or the focus it takes to line up an engraving, create this rhythm that quiets all the noise in my head. It’s not just “making something cute.” It’s my therapy. And when I paint or put everything together, the sense of accomplishment makes the world feel a little lighter.
The Stress We Don’t Talk About Enough
We don’t talk enough about the weight of motherhood. The mental load is heavy. We’re expected to juggle it all — work, parenting, relationships, finances, the house, the schedule — and to do it with a smile. Add in social media comparison, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel burnt out.
I’ve had days where I’ve felt stretched so thin that I start snapping over the smallest things. That’s what constant stress does. It chips away at your patience, your confidence, and your joy.
Crafting became my way of pushing back. Instead of waiting for a spa day that might never happen, I can grab 20 minutes during nap time or late at night and lose myself in a project. Those little pockets of creativity recharge me in a way scrolling my phone never could.
Lessons from Wood and Creativity
Working with wood has a way of teaching you things you didn’t expect. It’s full of knots and grain patterns that you can’t control. If you fight against them, you’ll end up frustrated. But if you learn to work with the imperfections, they become the most beautiful part of the piece.
Motherhood feels the same. Autumn isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect either. But when I embrace the imperfections — the messy days, the tantrums, the undone to-do list — I find more peace.
Crafting also teaches patience. Intarsia pieces sometimes take weeks to complete. Every step requires slow, careful effort. That same patience shows up in my parenting. I’m reminded that growth takes time — whether it’s piecing together a wooden design or raising a little girl.
Why Moms Need Creative Outlets
Motherhood is such a beautiful identity shift, but it can also feel like you’ve lost parts of yourself. Suddenly you’re just “so-and-so’s mom.” And while I love being Autumn’s mom, I’m also still me.
Crafting reconnects me with that part of myself. It reminds me I have ideas, preferences, and talents outside of laundry and snack schedules. And the more I nurture that part of me, the more whole I feel.
It also shows Autumn something important: self-care matters. When she sees me working on a piece while she paints beside me, she learns that adults need creative play too. That it’s normal for moms to have hobbies and dreams.
And on the days I get to connect with other crafters — online or at local markets — it’s a breath of fresh air. It feels so good to talk about wood grains, design ideas, or paint colors instead of bills, potty training, or what’s for dinner.
Finding Time in the Margins
If you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for this,” trust me, I get it. My schedule is packed too. But I’ve learned to sneak creativity into the margins of my day.
I plan designs in the daycare pickup line.
I sketch patterns on my iPad at night after Autumn goes to bed.
I run the laser engraver while folding laundry.
I jot ideas down in a notebook during my lunch break at work.
The truth is, creativity doesn’t always require hours of uninterrupted time. Sometimes it’s about 10 intentional minutes. And those 10 minutes can reset your entire mood.
Letting Go of “Perfect”
If I could give one piece of advice to other moms who want to start crafting, it’s this: let go of perfect.
The crooked paint line? The uneven sanding? None of it matters. What matters is how it makes you feel. This isn’t about making museum-worthy art. It’s about creating space for yourself.
Every time I finish a piece, I see the little imperfections. But over time I’ve learned to love them. They tell the story of handmade work — just like the messy moments in motherhood tell the story of a real, beautiful life.
Creating Space (Even When You Don’t Have Much)
You don’t need a studio or a she-shed (though I won’t lie, that’s on my dream list!). For now, my crafting corner is a small space on the porch. Sometimes it’s just my iPad and notebook on the couch.
The point isn’t having the perfect setup — it’s having a space that feels like yours. Even a small basket of supplies tucked in the corner can remind you that your creativity matters.
I like to make my space feel intentional. Sometimes I’ll light a candle, play soft music, or add seasonal touches like autumn leaves in a jar or a sprig of wildflowers. Those little details signal to my brain: this is your time.
The Ripple Effect
The time I spend crafting doesn’t just help me — it helps my whole family. When I’ve taken time to recharge, I’m more patient, present, and peaceful. The stress I leave behind in the wood dust doesn’t get carried into my parenting.
And Autumn benefits too. She’s fascinated by the tools and loves to watch projects come together. She’s learning that creativity doesn’t end when you grow up — it just changes forms. And that mistakes aren’t failures, they’re part of the process.
Even my husband noticed the difference. At first, he worried adding another “hobby” would create more stress. But he’s seen the opposite happen. Crafting has made me happier, calmer, and more confident — which makes life better for all of us.
Your Creative Journey Starts Now
If you’ve read this far, chances are something inside you is craving that peace and satisfaction that creativity brings. Maybe you used to craft but lost touch with that part of yourself. Maybe you’ve always wanted to but convinced yourself you’re “not artistic.” Or maybe you’re already creating but never thought of it as a form of self-care.
Here’s the truth: there will never be a perfect time. There will always be laundry, dishes, and a child who needs your attention. But you deserve this too.
Start small. Pick a simple project that excites you. Let go of perfect. Let it be messy. Let it be yours.
Because every brushstroke, every stitch, every sanding session, every design on the iPad — they’re not just projects. They’re reminders that you matter too.
In a world that constantly asks you to give, crafting is your chance to give back to yourself. And in that, you’ll find not only stress relief, but also a path back to the creative, centered woman you’ve always been — the woman who existed before motherhood, and the one who is still growing alongside it.
