52. Finding Yourself Again: How Motherhood Can Fuel Your Creative Spark with Hayley Dunlop {Entwined Author}
How Motherhood Can Fuel Creativity and Help You Rediscover the Real You
In this episode of Chill Like a Mother, Hayley Dunlop shares her journey of rediscovering her creativity through motherhood. Her story is a reminder that motherhood can be a catalyst for self-expression, pushing us to reconnect with our authentic selves—both in and outside of parenting and truly finding yourself again.
Motherhood changes you. It’s messy, unpredictable, and full of surprises.
But what if instead of seeing these changes as a loss of our former selves, we viewed them as an opportunity for growth? In the latest episode of Chill Like a Mother, we explore this very idea through the story of Hayley Dunlop, a former corporate PR professional whose life took an unexpected turn with the birth of her first child.
Hayley’s journey isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing the real, messy, creative self that emerged because of motherhood, not in spite of it.
Motherhood: A Creative Awakening
Before becoming a mom, Hayley was the textbook definition of organized and responsible. Her life was mapped out—she had a thriving career in PR and everything seemed to be under control. But as any mom knows, motherhood has a way of throwing that control out the window.
When Hayley’s first child was born, she was thrust into a world that felt chaotic and unfamiliar. But instead of resisting the changes, she leaned into them. Motherhood became a catalyst for her creative awakening. Writing, which had always been a passion, became her sanctuary. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was a lifeline that helped her process the massive shift in her identity.
For Hayley, motherhood was the push she needed to embrace creativity. She found that amidst the chaos of raising kids, she was also raising a new version of herself—one that was more creative, more in tune with her desires, and more open to exploring new possibilities.
How-To: Embrace Your Creative Self as a Mom
Tune Into Your Creative Urges: Motherhood can make it easy to put your passions on hold, but it’s also an opportunity to reconnect with them. Like Hayley, listen to those creative nudges—whether it’s writing, painting, or simply daydreaming—and follow them.
Make Space for Creativity: It doesn’t have to be perfect or uninterrupted. Find small pockets of time where you can let your creativity flow, even if it’s just for a few minutes while the kids are playing or sleeping.
Honor Your Changing Self: You’re not the same person you were before becoming a mother, and that’s okay. Use your creative pursuits to explore and embrace this new version of yourself. Let your art or writing reflect the changes you’re going through.
The Real You: More Than Just a Mom
One of the most beautiful parts of Hayley’s story is how she redefined her identity, not just as a mother but as a creator. Through the chaos of early parenting, Hayley rediscovered the parts of herself that have been dormant—her creativity, her love for writing, and her desire to build something meaningful.
The pandemic lockdowns played a role in this, giving Hayley the forced stillness to reassess what truly mattered to her. Instead of trying to be the same person she was before kids, she evolved. This period of reflection helped her pivot from her traditional career to a role in a creative agency that aligned with her values.
Hayley’s journey serves as a reminder that motherhood isn’t about losing yourself—it’s about expanding who you are. It’s about finding the balance between being a mother and honoring the creative, multifaceted person you’ve always been.
Hayley Dunlop’s story shows us that motherhood can be a launchpad for creativity.
Finding yourself again in motherhood is not about striving to be the perfect mom or maintaining an image. It’s about allowing yourself to evolve, to follow your creative passions, and to embrace the real, ever-changing you.
So if you’ve been feeling like motherhood has taken away parts of who you are, maybe it’s time to rethink that narrative. Perhaps it’s pushing you toward a new, more creative version of yourself—one that’s braver, more authentic, and ready to make space for both the chaos and the beauty of life.
Hayley Dunlop is a UK-based writer, author and mother to two children.
Hayley spent the first 15 years of her career working in media and PR before realizing that wasn’t what she wanted to do at all and switching to creative copywriting. She lives just outside London with her husband and kids and is fuelled by loud music, frequent naps and the New Yorker cartoon caption contest. Her first novel, an unconventional festive romcom, will be published in summer 2025.
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