Mummy is Creative

Mummy is Creative

What does it feel like to create as a child? Or as a mother, alongside your child?

Our second Story of Mum: Mums Making An Exhibition of Ourselves event at The Exchange in Cornwall was our Family Make Date.

Our devious plan: distract the kids with the joyful making of stuff and epic storytelling so the mums (and dads, and grandparents...) could take time out to get creative and join in with the  exhibition.

In our kiddy distraction toolkit were butterfly and chrysalis-making with the fabulous Annie of Creation Station, along with animal paper-chains and playdough (lemon-scented no less) made by my lovely school-gates buddy Karen.

Plus, we had lots of books, beanbags, a baby discovery basket of textural goodies, and the conch-blowing story-telling force of nature that is John Brolly.

Last but not least, were cupcakes, baked and iced by the finest mama-bakers of Penzance.

It worked.

We created with our children. We had posh coffee and more than sufficient cake. We caught up with old friends over gluey fingers and strips of magazines.

We made Identity Parades and Mama Mash-Up collages of our mashed-up mama identities and took a few precious moments out to remember who we are.

We stepped away from the hubbub of the cafe to put our collages up on the gallery wall. A little ritual. Choosing to take our space amongst all the other collaged stories of mothers from around the world.

We read the stories collected by Proshanti, watched My Mum Story films, and added lines to the communal mums' poem.

My children lay on the floor, fascinated by the rolling gallery of images of mothers from around the world bearing I'm a mum and a... placards. Squeals of excitement whenever they saw anyone they recognised on the big screen.

As well as taking more I'm a mum and a... photos, Chris Webber captured some other images of beauty.

Of our children held in the heart of a story.  

Our children caught in a precious moment of creating.

kids creating

There is something powerful in creating side by side with your child. It feels quite different to moulding the playdough with them, or setting them a task. It is you and them, as creative equals. Enjoying the freedom, exploring your own individual stories together. 

girl in creative thoughtAnd as we took this rare time to create something for ourselves, we remembered a little of what that used to feel like. To be a child again. To believe in the possibilities of our own creations, to dream, to believe in stories.

To believe that our stories deserve to be told. In playdough, scribbles, collage or words, however we feel like creating them right now. 

Which of course is the beat at the heart of story of mum. A space where mums can come together to enjoy creating, to connect with who we are deep down and to be heard together. Join us.

 

Come and see us at our next two events in Penzance, or in London at The Photographers' Gallery on 18/19 October where we'll be holding another Mums' Make Date and Family Make Date. You can also join in with the exhibition online any time by trying any of these activities.

If you'd like to find out more about our events, take a look this post on our evening event for mums too. You can also find out about our events in Milton Keynes for mums and families.

You can find more of Chris Webber's gorgeous photographs here.

Story of Mum: Mums Making An Exhibition of Ourselves is supported by Arts Council England, Feast and a range of other partners. Find out more here.