#82 - Three Stupid-Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Your Creativity as a Mother (with Mama Nous)
The moment I heard Mama Nous randomly on Spotify, i stopped in my tracks.
I had Spotify on shuffle and it had moved past my playlist into the algorithm's suggestions when this song came on that just... hit.
Mama Nous. I'd already been following her on Instagram for a few years - watching her create children's music that actually spoke to mothers - but I'd never really sought out her music specifically. Apparently the algorithm gods knew what I needed before I did (probably because we both talk about creativity and motherhood a lot).
When Creativity Looks Different in Motherhood
A few months ago, Mama Nous realized she hadn't written a song in two or three months. At first, she felt that familiar tension rising - the one that asks what's wrong with me? Am I losing it? Should I be practicing more?
But instead of spiraling into self-judgment, she got curious.
"I realized I hadn't touched my ukulele in a while, but it was because I was knitting instead," she shared. "And there's something really lovely about that tactile experience when it's starting to get cold... I am allowed to build whatever structures I want around my creativity. I am allowed to let them ebb and flow."
Read that again. Slower this time.
You're not getting report cards at the end of the day. There's no creativity police coming to revoke your "artist card" if you put down the paintbrush and pick up the knitting needles for a season.
The phrase she uses - "honor the whims of my joy" - isn't about being flaky or inconsistent. It's about trusting yourself, your process, and the knowing that creativity doesn't abandon you just because you're not actively producing something.
She's still creating when she's knitting by the fire.
She's still creating when she's making up songs in the car with her kids. She's still creating when she's sitting with a cup of tea and letting her mind wander.
"I can't turn it off," she laughed. "It's just constant. I just don't always notice it."
The Three Songs That Changed Everything
About a year ago, Mama Nous created three songs for her album Ocean of Emotions that she didn't realize would become tools for her own transformation. Here's what they taught her:
"Bully Brain" helped her externalize the critical voice in her head - the one we all have that speaks to us in ways we'd never let our children speak to each other. She started responding to those mean thoughts in a silly voice: "What do you think you're talking about? No way."
"I'm Proud of Myself" gave her permission to celebrate accomplishments without immediately moving to the next thing. "Procrastination is hard for me with my neuro-spicy brain," she admitted. "I got over myself. I made that phone call I really didn't want to do. Yay me, go me. That's awesome." She sings it to herself when she completes daily tasks. It's become a practice in self-kindness.
"Worrying Has Never Changed a Thing" reminded her to focus on what's actually in her control and to release the weight of everything that isn't. It asks: is there something I can do about this? If yes, take action. If no, let it go.
Together, these songs created an internal shift. "I don't really fight with myself like I used to," she realized. "I hadn't quite realized just how much inner transformational work I've done over the past year."
Why Your Kids Need to See You Create
One of the most powerful things Mama Nous said in our conversation was this: "I think it's so important for my children to witness me prioritizing not only my creativity, but also myself and my boundaries in that way."
She refuses to feel guilty about telling her kids "this is mine" when they ask to use her art supplies or play with her ukulele. They have their own. These are hers.
"I want my children to grow up knowing that their mother prioritized being a whole person," she explained. "That I didn't lose my entire identity in being their mom, which is kind of an unfair position to put them in - like, I sacrificed so much for you. No. I want to figure out how we can co-create this balance that works for both of us that allows me to show up as the best version of myself I can in this moment."
This isn't about being selfish. It's about modeling sovereignty. It's about showing them that they too can grow up to claim space for what feeds their soul - not despite having responsibilities, but within having them.
So if you're sitting here thinking, "Okay, I get it - but HOW?" Here's where to start.
Three Stupid-Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Your Creativity
1. Follow Your Creative Whims Instead of Forcing One Medium
Mama Nous hadn't touched her ukulele in months - and instead of beating herself up about it, she noticed she'd been knitting instead.
The practice: Stop forcing yourself to return to the creative practice you think you should be doing. If painting feels heavy but doodling while your kid naps feels light - doodle. If writing feels stuck but voice-noting ideas in your car feels alive - record. If you haven't picked up your instrument but you've been singing made-up songs to your kids all week - that counts.
Creativity doesn't abandon you when you shift mediums. You're allowed to honor what wants to come through right now, not what came through six months ago.
Try this: Ask yourself: "What creative thing feels easy and joyful this week?" Not productive. Not impressive. Easy and joyful. Do that.
2. Celebrate Your Creative Wins Out Loud (Even the Tiny Ones)
Mama Nous created a song called "I'm Proud of Myself" to combat her pathological humility - and now she sings it to herself every time she completes something her neuro-spicy brain tried to avoid.
Made that phone call? Yay me, go me, that's awesome.
Finished the thing you've been procrastinating? I'm so cool.
Showed up to your art journal for five minutes? Go me.
The practice: Most of us move immediately from one task to the next without acknowledging what we just did. We dismiss our creative efforts as "not that hard" or "not good enough yet." This trains your brain to see creativity as something that never measures up.
Instead, pause after you create anything - even if it's messy, even if it's small - and say out loud (or sing, or whisper, or text a friend): "I'm proud of myself."
Try this: The next time you make something, spend 30 seconds feeling proud before you move on to the next thing. Notice how it feels in your body to not dismiss yourself.
3. Protect Your Creative Tools Like You Protect Your Kids' Stuff
When Mama Nous's kids ask to use her paints or play with her ukulele, she says: "You have your own. These are mine."
No apologies. No guilt. No "maybe when you're older." Just a clear, loving boundary.
The practice: Your creative supplies aren't family supplies. Your creative time isn't "extra time" that automatically belongs to everyone else. If you've been letting your kids use your good markers, or letting your partner schedule things during your studio hour, or treating your creative practice like it's optional - stop.
You teach your kids that their toys matter. You teach them that their bodies have boundaries. Now teach them that yours do too.
Try this: Pick one creative thing that's only yours - your sketchbook, your journal, your knitting needles, your morning pages time - and protect it this week. Say it out loud if you need to: "This is mine." Notice what comes up when you do.
These aren't big. They're not complicated. They're stupid-simple.
But they work - because they're not about adding more to your plate. They're about noticing, celebrating, and protecting the creativity that's already trying to come through you.
Finding Your Own Creative Rhythm in Motherhood
If there's one thing I want you to take from this conversation, it's this: creativity in motherhood isn't about consistency. It's about honoring what wants to come through you, when it wants to come, in whatever form it takes.
Maybe that's making up songs while you're driving to work. Maybe it's knitting by the fire all winter. Maybe it's setting up dinosaurs at breakfast, or pulling out your journal while your kid plays in the bath, or finally picking up that project you abandoned six months ago.
You're allowed to ebb and flow. You're allowed to build your own structures. You're allowed to honor the whims of your joy.
Start with those three things this week. Pick one - just one - and try it. Notice what shifts when you give yourself permission to be a whole person who creates, not just a mom who dreams about it someday.
And if you want to go deeper? If creativity feels like something that used to be yours but got buried under everything else and you're ready to dig it back up? Let's talk about it.
If you're a Canadian mom who wants to explore how creativity can be part of your healing and identity reclamation, book a discovery call with me. We'll figure out what's actually in the way and whether working together makes sense.
Listen to Episode 82 – Hear the full conversation with Mama Nous on the Chill Like a Mother podcast.
Explore Mama Nous's Music – Stream Ocean of Emotions and discover songs that speak to both kids and their grownups.
P.S. If this landed for you, save it. Share it with a friend who needs permission to pick up her paintbrush again. Or just sit with it for a minute and ask yourself: what's one creative thing I could do today that would feel like coming home to myself?
Want to watch the full conversation? Episode 82 of Chill Like a Mother podcast is available now.
Mama Nous's music (including the song that made me cry and the Ocean of Emotions album with those three transformative songs) can be found wherever you stream. I promise it's not just for kids.
P.S. I'd love to hear how this lands. What's your creative practice right now? What are you giving yourself permission to let go of? Drop a comment and let's normalize the ebb and flow together.
Connect With mama nous
hi, i'm mama nous (*ma*ma*noo) and i'm so excited to sing with you!
i share songs, tools, and magically mindful (re)parenting strategies to help you connect with children (including your inner child!) in ways that gently build emotional intelligence & resilience.
i believe kids music should be enjoyable for grownups too so my musical style is influenced by my background as an indie folk musician. i hope my songs bring more joy and playfulness into your family's life, give you language to start big conversations, and help you nurture your own inner child.
Need a hand figuring out next steps?
Or just want a little more info?
You’ll find ways to connect below.
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