QOTW: How do I balance the maker life as a mom?

Photo: @naturally_nora_crochet

Hello Makers!
I'm Kelly, proud member of team OML. I'm excited to delve back into my journalism roots to bring you a streeter-style Question of the Week, with answers straight from the source that matters most: your fellow makers. 
This exclusive OML blog feature will tackle your questions by asking and sharing the opinions of other beloved creatives in the maker community. QOTW topics will range on anything and everything from why coffee is an OML-must have, to how we as makers balance our entrepreneurial, social and personal lives.

This week I asked three talented moms to share their insight on finding the balance between being a maker, and being a parent.  

As Mother's Day 2016 came and went, I noticed so many of you wonderful makers celebrating your roles as parents and cherishing your little ones. We at OML enjoyed honoring and admiring hardworking moms throughout Mother's Day weekend through Instagram, but couldn't help to ask: what's the day to day of balancing orders, social media, and pruning the shopfront with the wee ones like? 
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Here's what Jessica of @the.hook.nook, Nichole of @naturally_nora_crochet, and Charissa of @joyfulfour had to say about maker life and motherhood:

OML QOTW: How do you balance being a maker, with being a parent?

Jessica, @the.hook.nook

"I love being able to involve my kiddos in my work. While I work on projects or return emails, I have my kiddos do crafts. My husband is an artist as well so allowing our kids to grow their creativity is really special to us. Sometimes I'll have my babies cuddle up next to me watching a movie while I work on patterns or finish up easier items. But I've learned that they deserve my time more often so sometimes my business suffers, but my children having their mama with them and creating memories is a much more meaningful success."

- Jessica,
​The Hook Nook
​@the.hook.nook

Nicole, @naturally_nora_crochet

"Motherhood and crochet design are simply, purely part of my identity. One inspires the other, and they must coexist for me to thrive. I often work right next to my beloved littles; they color, build, or dig in the yard, I sketch, swatch, and crochet as I listen and encourage. I model for them, especially my daughters, to value and make time for the gifts they’ve been blessed with. I pray my children grow to understand that their capacity to serve others increases with self-awareness and self-care. For me, that self-care means time to design and time with yarn and hooks." 

​- Nichole,
​Naturally Nora Crochet
@naturally_nora_crochet

Charissa, @​joyfulfour

"Being a mom of four, every day life can be crazy.  
Most days I feel like a taxi driver, and let's not forget the cooking, the cleaning, and the never ending piles of laundry.   
Balancing home life with crocheting can be difficult at times, but crocheting is something I’m passionate about.  So I’ll carve out moments of my days to fit in. Usually it’s early in the morning before the kids wake up. You know that saying, 'but first coffee, and crochet'?
Yeah, that’s totally me." 

- Charissa,
​Joyful Four
​@joyfulfour

Do you have a great QOTW you want answered by fellow makers?  Have a Q&A idea or opinion regarding the maker life in general? Email us with ' OML QOTW' in the subject line to ourmakerlife@gmail.com - we'd love to put together a streeter-style QOTW with you!

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Kelly is the mind, body and soul behind @knitbrooks: handmade modern knitwear inspired by nature’s endless beauty. After completing a 
photojournalism program, Kelly used both knitting and crocheting as a way to relax after a long day working as a reporter/photographer. This hobby has since transformed into a way to combine her love of creating fashionable knitwear, with her passion for photography, a cozy lifestyle, and her awe and admiration of the untouched wilderness.