Today, I’m talking to Amy Gladding - a teacher, mother and incredibly talented artist. You can find her work on instagram at @my_faraway. We both believe that creativity is a vital part of life, but there is incredible pressure on all of us (and particularly working mums) to be some kind of superwoman.

Creativity in all its forms - from art to DIY to watching the TV - has been essential for so many people's mental health over the pandemic, but we often don't make it the priority is actually is.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The importance of loving what you do (4:00)

- Everyday creativity and our mental health (6:45)

- A teacher's perspective on raising "arty" teenagers (10:00)

- How Amy retained her identity as she became a mum (12:00)

- The importance of collaborating with your people (19:15)

- The pressure we face to be a "superwoman" (23:00)

- How to support someone to talk about the tough stuff (28:00)

- "Mental filing cabinets" and how we understand our worlds (28:45)

If what you heard today resonated with you, I’m always up for a chat. If you've got problems right now, book yourself in and we'll turn them into possibilities. If you're looking for a network of lovely and loving people to support you, our Facebook community Port in the Storm is your new safe harbour. Whatever you need, we've got your back.