Minna Gilligan, a 34-year-old artist based in Melbourne, embraced motherhood for the first time last year with the arrival of her son, Seren. She describes this experience as the most fulfilling chapter of her life, yet it has not come without unexpected hurdles.
Minna shares the struggle of balancing her identity as an artist with her new role as a parent. She finds herself grappling with the scarcity of personal time, which has become both rare and precious since the birth of Seren. Known for her vibrant paintings, drawings, and collages, Minna often works on various commercial projects, including illustrations and fabric designs. Despite her creative talents, she admits to feeling guilt about not being able to devote enough time to her art since becoming a mother.
Living with her husband Simon, a cinematographer, in Naarm (Melbourne), Minna recently resumed her part-time role at an art magazine. She reflects on the importance of adjusting to a new life rhythm while nurturing her creative spirit. Minna takes pleasure in everyday moments like hearing Seren’s first morning sounds, which she finds especially rewarding after restful nights.
A favourite pastime of hers is scouring op shops, which she describes as a meditative activity, allowing her a mental escape while indulging in her love for fashion. When physically browsing isn’t an option, she enjoys exploring second-hand websites as a consolation.
The challenges of parenthood were particularly pronounced for her when she realised the impact on her creative output. As someone who identifies heavily with her artistic life, she has had to confront feelings of self-doubt and adjust her expectations, reminding herself that it’s essential to be kind and patient during this transitional phase.
Her daily life has transformed into a mix of early mornings filled with baby care routines and shared responsibilities with Simon. On days when Simon is home, they alternate duties to manage their time effectively and look after Seren.
To reclaim moments of calm amidst the chaos of parenting, Minna finds solace in simple rituals like enjoying a chai latte during Seren’s nap times, listening to podcasts, and taking walks. Even indulging in mindless reality TV at night has proven to be a comforting distraction that she didn’t explore before motherhood.
If she could offer advice to her pre-parenthood self, it would be to worry less about childbirth; her experience was positive. Like many first-time parents, Minna felt unprepared for the challenges of bringing a baby home, but she now embraces her journey with newfound confidence, advocating for gentleness and self-compassion as essential elements of motherhood.