Out of the Mouths of Babes
Poet and author, Maya Angelou in For Mom with Love, A book of Quotations:
“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.”
- Welcome to ‘Out of the Mouths of Babes’
This page is dedicated to the discussion of mothering and creativity.
These two topics, or realities really, are inextricably linked, but do not always exist consciously together.
I dare to say that most mothers do not think of themselves as creative, even though they are, as a human species, wired to create.
Why is the creativity of a woman so important to the world?
To her children?
To her community?
To her family?
To her self?
Because a woman’s creativity feeds her soul.
A woman’s creativity re-members her to the Divine- to the holy which dwells within her.
A woman’s creativity expresses her true nature.
Fully engaged women raise fully engaged children. Women who value their own creativity are activists for other women. Women who express themselves fully advocate for children and the planet. They are citizens of the world operating from the power centers of their kitchens, studios, laundry rooms and boardrooms of the best and brightest institutions. Empowered and fully voiced women are the possibility of the future for it is said, “in the realm of our imagination we begin to manifest a new reality”. As feminists seeking equal representation, as mothers seeking full expression of our experience, as women seeking equal pay as our gifted male colleagues, we find, through our creativity, a super highway to a productive and healthy life.
Creative expression does not equal a traditional success story. Women who are mothers and artists are often propelled to find alternate ways to manage their family lives and artistic lives.
It is in the way we weave all of this together that ‘Out of the Mouths of Babes’ is born.
Just last week, Gloria Steinem answered the question of what her wishes for the current generations of women are for the future with this:
“My wish for women is to tell their stories.”
You can bet I was happy to be listening to the TED talk to hear that quote just now.
If you look closely at the collage I have here, you will see within the stripes of image, Gloria Steinem’s face. I was demonstrating strip collage technique to the Darling Hill International Artist Club this summer in Vermont and used an image of Gloria from a magazine, interposed with a vintage 50’s glamour advertisement and played over it with a contemporary rock climber. That, to me, is the interplay of women today, whether or not you consider yourself a feminist, to stand for our beauty, value and integrity in new ways by calling on and engaging new layers of understanding of what it is to be a woman.
For the next 3 months and maybe beyond that time, you will meet many guest bloggers from across the globe here. Women will be joining this conversation. Readers of the Laundry Line are welcome to comment. If you would like to offer a blog post, please get in touch with me here. And, if this topic interests or inspires you, pass it on, play with us. There will be video blogs and links to the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers at Simon’s Rock College of Bard.
On Friday March 2, 2012 at Simon’s Rock, Laundry Line Divine and BFWW will present ‘Out of the Mouths of Babes: an evening of mothers reading to others”.
We’d love to see you there. Details of the event will be posted here.
Until then, I pray you consider one small way in which you express yourself creatively today, whether it is the doodle you do on the grocery list or the way you juggle 3 meetings and one parent teacher conference.
See that, notice it, and celebrate it. We’d love to hear about it here.
xo S
December 8th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
I’d love to contribute, especially on creativity.
December 8th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Terrific Thelma, I will contact you by email. Thank you for reading. I look forward to sharing your wit and insight with the readers of Laundry Line Divine. xoxo S
December 8th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Looking forward to blogging away.I’d like to answer some of those probing questions you pose! Great Collage SBB!
Yes, a woman’s creativity feeds her soul!
I’ll take seconds on that one!
mmm, karen
December 9th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Maybe that is a line for our letterpress date? I will talk to you about possible dates for your guest blogpost. xoxoxo Love, S
December 10th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Happy, happy, happy! And welcome to this new space on the internet. It feels so good already, with that exquisite balancing act of a collage at the top. I feel completely lost in the midst of my first year of mothering, mostly out of touch with the comfortable forms of creativity I love, but I would love to try my hand at putting words to this experience, if you’ll have me.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
You are brilliant, Sister Suzi. This whole page, your own manifesto here written. I am honored to know and love you!
December 12th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Terrific news to hear your enthusiasm, Mary. I am so happy to feel the momentum of this project and here at the Laundry Line. I am thrilled to love you too- over the moon and back again, S
December 12th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Texy, as you know, you are my sought after guest blogger, if all you have to offer is a short list of your desires…which, upon writing, would open the valves of your creativity in an instant. Thank you for expressing so clearly what it is that occurs with the arrival of our beloved families and the changes that occur. xoxox Love and hugs, S
December 28th, 2011 at 12:22 am
I would love to offer a blog post. Nearing sixty, I feel I have come full circle from a full inclusion in women’s rights issues of the 60′s & 70′s, to current involvement with the oppression of women today in developing countries. Of great interest to me at present is how women in post-war torn countries heal: Where “talking therapy” fails, storytelling and dance and creating art are creating bridges to forgiveness and empowerment. There is great hope.
January 12th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Suzi, as you might imagine, I would LOVE to guest blog here. you know what I (like) to write about: the liminal place where creativity and consciousness meet–the limitless realm of creative spirit where labels (mother, artist, writer, yogi etc). fall away and we just dive in and co-create along with divine spirit……..happy to write about any of the above–from the specifics: how I nurture my own creativity every single day (along with mothering)–to the esoteric philosophical tenets of creativity and consciousness……..
January 13th, 2012 at 6:50 am
You are my hero! ~_~
January 13th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Right back to you my Marilyn! So glad you are here with me. Love, Suzi
January 13th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Yup, readers of this blog will soon be graced with some of Lori’s brilliance! Keep your eyes on the Out of the Mouths of Babes page. Thank you Lori! Love, Suzi
January 18th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Please DO include “My Friend Maia”.
January 19th, 2012 at 8:47 am
just saw this reply to my offer, Suzi–I’m so already “percolating” and refining ideas for my guest blog–can’t wait to share my own personal connection to this dynamic dyad: merging creativity and motherhood! thanks for all you to do help boost my own practice!
January 19th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Hey Suzi, thanks for visiting my site and your comments on my blog. I love what you’re saying here and ADORE Gloria Stenheim – that’s one stylish 77 year old lady!
Congratulations on providing a space for women’s stories and creative lives.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
Berry
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Dear Berry, Welcome to the Laundry Line. We will string a piece of cotton rope between here and OZ for you to hang things on. So glad to have you here. Love, Suzi
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
YES! Love and thanks to you Julia, S
February 4th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
[...] looking forward to participating in this Out of the Mouths of Babes reading and panel discussion at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Blodgett Hall on Friday, [...]
February 9th, 2012 at 8:50 am
I wrote for 5 years for International Family Magazine on single, adoptive parenting. Would love to be a part of this!
February 12th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Can’t wait for your blog post Cheryl. Love, S
February 13th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
I’d love to submit on this great topic.
February 13th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Wow! You did a fabulous job with this site. I LOVE it. I really feel your loving energy in every word. And I’d love to contribute or support you/this site anyway I can. This is awesome.
Well done honey.
Barbara Stanny