Raising Maine

Visit Amanda Soule's blog and you may find yourself slowing down to admire the photo of the pink tulips or the photo of sunlight sifting through a glass of orange juice next to small hands clasped tightly, as if praying. These are moments of Soule's life, though only a small part.

Moments that are possible for any family if they sit long enough to luxuriate in their imagination, as Soule suggests in her first book, "The Creative Family, How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connection," which is due out in April from Trumpeter books, an imprint of Shambhala Publishers.

Soule, a South Portland native, believes that a simple moment spent in the imagination can go a long way in helping parents connect with their children, and their children connect with the world.

"More and more of us are looking for simplicity in our family lives. We all crave a back-to-basic family environment — a more calm, more connected place," Soule said, adding that it takes a daily commitment to balance her own life as a writer and craftswoman (she occasionally designs and sells vintage-inspired handmade items) with mindful parenting. "No one can squeeze in more hours in the day," Soule said. "My hope is that there’s a project someone responds to in the book and they incorporate creativity into what they’re already doing."

"The Creative Family" is a mix of how-to projects and meditations about living creatively, from felting and finger knitting to bringing moments of play to everyday rituals. Soule has shared all the activities in the book with her own children, Calvin 7, Ezra 5, and Adelaide 2 1/2.

As part of a growing trend in the blogging world, a publisher approached Soule to write a book based on her daily blog, www.soulemama.com, about crafting, thrifting and family adventures.

"It felt meant to be," Soule said, adding that she had been pondering book ideas when she got the call from Shambhala. “Our ideas really meshed.”

Midway through writing "The Creative Family," Soule noticed that a chapter about resourcefulness could blossom into something more, so she worked with Shambhala to develop a second book, which is due out in 2009, about repurposing for the family home. Though the past two years have been busy, Soule has remained committed to mindful parenting. She spent some time recently with Raising Maine to talk about becoming an author.

Raising Maine: Your new book, “The Creative Family, How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections,” is an interesting mix of how-to craft projects and musings about nurturing a lifestyle that is more creative. Why is creativity important to a family?

Soule: “I believe being creative is the ability to use imagination and to create something new – an idea, a ‘thing,’ an experience. It’s growth, freedom to learn and question, and it’s about expressing the essence of who we are. The Creative Family is full of ideas on how we can nurture this creative part of ourselves as a family – from our everyday rituals; our celebrations of each other; our connection to nature; and our hobbies and passions.

When we’re ‘creating’, we are fully engaged and connected as a family. We’re creating meaningful memories, giving our children helpful skills with which to enter the world and nurturing our sense of selves and individuality – both as children and adults.

Raising Maine: In an interview with Parent Resources Advance magazine, you say that “raising more creative and connected families could have a direct and powerful effect on our health and the health of our planet.” Describe what that effect might be?

Soule: “I was referring to the way in which our family – and I can only presume this to be true for others – feels more connected and centered after having spent time in the natural world. It’s often upon returning home from time in the woods, at the shore or in a park, that we are at our most creative as family. Nature becomes not only the inspiration for our creative play, but the subject and occasionally the medium. In these moments we’re not only nurturing our family connection, but also that of our connection to the Earth. Only when you care deeply about something are you able to help it. And with creative thinking, we have the possibility of new solutions to our mounting earthly challenges.”

Raising Maine: In your introduction, you suggest that when our children see us create, and we create together with “love and intent,” something beautiful happens. What are some of the results you have seen happen?

Soule: “Some of my favorite moments with my children are when we’re making things together. And the ‘beautiful things’ we create together are rarely the actual finished projects (though, I do rather like those too!). It’s in the process of creating together — when we’re focused on the same goal, laughing, playing and learning together — that existing challenges and struggles disappear and we’re left with a real sense of connection and love. Beautiful things indeed.”

Raising Maine: What's the most challenging aspect of being a mom of three while writing a blog and two books back-to-back?"

Soule: “We try to have the majority of my work time fit around the seasonal breaks that my husband has in his work schedule. But that’s the ideal and not always the reality. So the biggest challenge has been those stretches of time when he’s working and I’m also under a deadline. I know this is a challenge that many families face between juggling work, school and home. For us, it’s on these busy days that it becomes even more essential that we stop, take a break and really connect with each other. The daily rituals of our evening meal and bedtime become even more important to all of us.”

Raising Maine: You created all the impressive crafts for your book and Web site, as well as the photos, yet you mention that you grew up not feeling creative. I think many people feel the same way. What is an activity someone can do to open the doors to their own creativity?

Soule: It’s true - I never would have defined myself as creative, though looking back I see lots of evidence of creativity in my childhood. I’m sure this could be said of many people.

I think the biggest thing we can do is to shed our previous notions of what ‘creativity’ looks like. As parents, we’re so blessed in that we can do just that by simply playing and creating with our children without expectation or pressure about the results. Your children will be thrilled you’re playing alongside them and you can give yourself a little freedom with which to play – something we don’t do enough of as adults.

Once you’re open to the idea that you even can be creative, and you’ve let go of the notion of results, I think the opportunities and mediums with which to do so will present themselves to you. When you see something that piques your interest, grab and run with it.

Raising Maine: What are some of the challenges you had to overcome, or some of the sacrifices you had to make, to live the life you want to lead?"

Soule: We work less so we can be together as a family more, which of course comes with some financial sacrifice. But when it’s a conscious choice we make and one that we’re happy with, it doesn’t feel like such a sacrifice.

Raising Maine: Many parents, especially single parents, can’t squeeze much more time out of their busy schedules to be creative. What are some of the activities you mention in your book that a single parent can do with their child that wouldn’t take a lot of time? How can a single parent carve out some time to be creative with their children?

Soule: It was really important to me to write a book that wouldn’t add more to the list of things parents feel they ‘should’ be doing. Instead, I hope readers will find ways to incorporate creativity into the moments and the day-to-day life they’re already living with their children – from the everyday rituals and routines inherent in family life, to imaginative games that can be done impromptu, as well as some activities for when there’s more time to set aside.

Raising Maine: Every parent has moments when they’re highly stressed and the walls are collapsing in on them. When do those moments happen for you? And what helps you through them?

Soule: Certainly we do all have those moments. Mine come most often at times when we have an outside stress on the family, or I haven’t been taking care of myself well, or one (or more!) of the children are going through a bit of a funk/phase. In those moments of desperation, I try to pause and breathe. I’m usually able to dig deep enough to find love or enough patience with which to turn and meet my child, reminding myself that in that moment I’m modeling how to manage stress for my children. At other times, the ‘pause and breathe’ means planning a break for myself or placing a phone call to my husband or a friend. My most treasured parenting book is Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn, which I find so positive in moments of need.

Raising Maine: In Chapter 12, you talk about “craftivism,” using crafts for social change. You mention a few organizations, is there a local one that people can participate in you’d recommend or one you’re working with now?

Soule: Most of the work the work I’ve done with this has been with national and international groups, and the book includes a list of several organizations. In Maine we have a few chapters of Project Linus, which provides blankets and quilts to children who are ill or otherwise in need. Churches and other social organizations have always been — and continue to be — a place where crafting is done for those in need, so that’s always a good place to check.

Raising Maine: Who is one mom (other than your own) you admire and why?

Soule: Oh, I don’t know that I could choose one. I’m so inspired by all mothers, truthfully, and all the many different ways in which we parent. I’ve been so blessed to have some wonderful mothers in my life as friends, from whom I have learned so very much about the kind of mother I want to be.