Being an art mom is often an extremely busy time. Very much so. Running constantly – to not be late, to make it, to arrive on time.
When we enrolled our oldest son in ballet school, a daily race against time began for our family. One child to school – the second grade of elementary school, the second child to school – kindergarten, and the third child constantly within reach. And in my mind, I was constantly wrestling with a predetermined schedule. At what time to leave, how much time I have left, what to do in that time, because in a moment the next point of the day – the ballet school of the eldest son, and after all, still need to pick up my daughter from school and bring her home. And already it all seems embraced, already all the points before going to the ballet ticked off, and I continue at high speed and in my head thoughts rushing, scanning reality. So, driving to the ballet school once again in my mind I check whether I have managed to do everything… And suddenly this paralyzing thought “Where is Adam?!”. A second of terror. A glance in the rearview mirror. There he is. In the car seat. Within arm’s reach.
At that time, some terms disappeared from our family vocabulary of everyday words. It was as if the relentlessly rushing dictator had wiped out such words as “walk, go, drive, travel, breathe…”.
Even our then six-year-old Zosia, before leaving home, began to ask: “Where are we going in a hurry today?”
Sometimes life puts us in such a situation that we have to run. It’s important to protect your thoughts and give them space to rest, even in the middle of a rushing day. Find a way…
For me, the best one was the artistic one. In my breathless running at the time, the real respite was the sounds of music, bits of prayer, looking for inspiration in the world around, finding images and words – painting moments… writing down thoughts….
