A rich life
Written By Divya Venkataraman
Four creative mothers tell us how they’ve kept their maker spirits thriving, in amongst the pressures (and pleasures) of motherhood.
Angie Tiwari
Decolonial yoga practitioner and founder of Unearthed Studio
On the journey from corporate to creative
I left my role as director of sales at a global tech company to run my side hustle full-time in 2023. Later that year, I became pregnant with my son, Brodie. I was very much in the early stages of building my business full-time — which, as many entrepreneurs know, is an intense period.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Having my own business meant I had autonomy, flexibility, and control, and that made a huge difference during pregnancy. I was able to honour my changing energy levels, adapt my schedule without guilt, and still drive my business forward on my terms.
What people don’t see though, is that while I had flexibility, I also worked incredibly hard. I restructured my offerings, continued to grow my online yoga studio community and hosted wellness retreats in Europe, all while navigating the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy. It required a lot of discipline, clarity, and self-compassion.
On bubbling over with creativity
Okay, it’s going to sound made up but sometimes I feel I need to rein my inspiration in!!! I feel full of ideas a lot of the time, and have learnt over the years how to focus rather than get carried away by everything I feel inspired to create. Which is probably a good problem to have, in all honesty.
On timing
It used to be that the early mornings were my most creative time, but now those are the most busy times for me. My mind isn’t in work mode at all. I find that creativity is sparked when I move in nature. My daily walks in very gorgeous, green spaces listening to bird songs makes me feel so present, so connected and often it’s then that the creativity flows. They say that looking at the colour green increases your creativity levels. I definitely think that’s true for me.
Becoming a mother cracked something open in me. It’s made me more connected to my intuition, it’s made me more focused on my creativity. It has also made me ask the question, frequently: ‘what is my rich life?’ I think about the answer to that a lot.
On ambition
I love my baby. And I love running yoga retreats, sharing Indian wellness rituals and running corporate wellness programmes. Those loves exist together and the love I have for my baby doesn’t alter the love I have for my work. Generally, I think there’s a subtle expectation that motherhood will quiet your ambition... especially if you’re self-employed. But for me, it’s been the opposite. I’m clearer than ever on what I want to build with Unearthed.
On letting go
I had to let go of perfectionism, especially around timing and output. I used to rely on long, focused work blocks, and now I often create in pockets of time. I’ve learnt that consistency is more powerful than chasing perfect conditions and that surrender to whatever the day has to offer is the only way to be.
Liz Sunshine
Photographer and founder of Street Smith Agency
On learning to value time — and charge for it
It was 10 years ago when I had my son. I was immediately time poor, but I wanted to work and also wanted to be with Harry as much as possible. I started to concentrate. I stopped doing favours for people or brands in the name of good PR, and started to charge what I was worth. The days, hours and minutes became precious, and that has never changed.
On inspiration (and mooching)
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. All inspiration is not equal, and having down time is really important for clarity.
Lots of the activities you do as a mum, especially while your children are young, are conducive to finding inspiration, or at least they were and still are for me. Spending time in public libraries, at art galleries, in nature or just mooching around the house — drawing, painting, cooking, gardening, tickling, touching, playing — listening to music, talking… being… these are all things that enrich my life, so in turn enrich my work.
I always carry a journal or write ideas down on my phone — half to be forgotten, but half make their way into the world eventually.
On midnight magic
I’m a night owl. I like the quiet, deep silence of midnight. It gives me space to breathe differently while my house is asleep and the patterns and connections within my brain are wildly productive.
On kids and creativity
I’m not sure if my kids make me more creative, maybe not. I think age has made me more creative, and having kids has made me more productive. More proactive. More inclined to multitask, and problem solve quickly.
I love taking them to exhibitions though, and talking to them about what we see — it’s like having a super friend that still believes everything you say, while also asking questions you would never think of.
On expectations
People expected me to be less ambitious after becoming a mother. But I commit to my family just like I would a photography client. When things are locked in, I don’t cancel. The funny thing is that I think ,if anything, I’m more ambitious. More hard-working. More determined. I’m not just living for me — everything is for them. The things that are now important to me are more so because when they grow up, my life will be an example that they look to. I want them to be proud of the woman I am, and the way I existed in the world.
Zeena Shah
Writer, designer, artist
On chemistry
It’s wild that our brains actually grow during motherhood, it’s one of the only times in life they do. During pregnancy, for me, the brain fog hit hard. I didn’t feel ambitious at all. I was perfectly content curled up on the sofa growing a baby, and I’m not usually a Netflix-and-chill kind of gal.
The moment I gave birth, though, it was like my brain came back online. I felt creative again, full of ideas, ready to go.
On finding focus in the chaos
I feel more inspired now than ever. I was worried I might lose myself in motherhood, but so far I haven’t.I do have far less time and energy — I’ve chosen not to put my son in nursery yet, so it’s a real juggling act. But I know this season is short, and these early moments are magical.
On old habits dying hard
Despite the sleep deprivation, I’m still a night owl. My brain lights up the moment the baby goes to bed. I should be winding down, but that’s when I come alive creatively.
On joy and slowness
Ziggy is such a joy. My husband and I are showing him the world, and it’s made us slow down and notice the small things more. One of my words for the year was ‘slow’, and he’s helped me remember that not everything has to happen right now.
On shaking up the old order
There’s such a weird relationship between motherhood and ambition. Society still kind of expects mums to stay home and quietly raise their babies — and the systems definitely don’t support us returning to work easily. Since having Ziggy, I’ve noticed certain brands I’d worked with for years pull back — which has been disappointing. But it’s also opened the door to a new kind of work, one that speaks more to who I am now.
Ainsley Hansen
Founder of Hansen and Gretel
On less time and more depth
Fashion was my hobby before it became my work, so stepping back can be challenging, but necessary. Before becoming a mum, I had the freedom to indulge in inspiration — to let it come and go as it pleased. These days, I don’t have that luxury. I’ve had to learn how to create on demand. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by a team that energises and pushes me creatively.
I also feel like I’m drawing from a deeper emotional well since becoming a mother, which has added more meaning and depth to what I create.
I find I’m most inspired during collaborative moments, those round-table sessions where ideas bounce between us. That said, inspiration still strikes, often when I least expect it. I’ve trained myself to work through the fog and trust the process.
On rhythms, quiet, and late-night sparks
Early morning, before anyone else is awake, is when I feel most clear and creative. That quiet space, untouched by the day’s demands, feels completely mine. I also find creativity flows when I’m in motion — whether I’m walking, driving, or even tidying up. There’s something about the rhythm that helps unlock thoughts.
Then again, I sometimes find myself up late at night, working away after everyone’s asleep. Suddenly it’s 2am! I’ve been trying to limit those late-night sessions these days and focus on rest, knowing it fuels creativity for the following day.
On motherhood as a reset
Kids see the world in such an uninhibited, imaginative way — being around that every day is like a creative reset. They challenge the rules we unconsciously set for ourselves. Becoming a mother has also made me more emotionally open. That said, time is limited. There’s not always space to sit and ponder an idea, especially in an industry that moves so quickly.
I do think there’s still an unspoken assumption that motherhood should soften or even sideline your ambition. But in my experience, it’s done the opposite. I’m more driven than ever, partly because I want to show my children what it looks like to pursue something with purpose and passion.
It’s not always easy — I’m often tired and constantly juggling — but I’m incredibly grateful to do what I love.