SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY EDITION 
Good Morning. Today is Mother’s Day! (If that’s news to you, we’ll understand that you must stop reading and start scrambling right now.) There are many paths you can take on your creative journey through life, but it sure helps when you have the support of a mother, a stepmother, a grandmother, an aunt and countless other supportive women. A creative life is fraught with frustrations, challenges, let-downs and unknowns. No matter how talented you are, it’s always easier to have a supportive person walking with you. We asked our Instagram followers to tell us about the role mothers and mother figures have played in their creative lives. And, what we got back was heartwarming and beautiful. Here are some of our favorite responses. We hope you enjoy them – and that they prompt you to pause and celebrate the women who have helped you on your path. Your friends at Charlotte Is Creative #Moms are blowing up Instagram
“[My mom] is the best mom and an amazing artist. She makes drawings and paintings and is a printmaker. She is curious and has always used her art to highlight injustices in the world – whether that’s sexism in the bible/church or the impact of plastic on the environment. She is loving and compassionate and feels things deeply. [She] cares about making the world a better place! I’m the artist I am today because of my mom. I am the person I am today because of my mom. <3 <3 <3. I love you, Mommy.” Watch More About ThisRobin Tynes-Miller (right in photo above), the author, and her mother, Bette (middle), appeared with Mary King (left) on WBTV’s QC Life Friday to discuss how they inspire one another. 
“OMG!!!! @Pahgws is the absolute truth! We literally would not be here if it weren’t for her love, for the way she disciplined/taught us and how she allowed us to try, fail and keep trying until we realized success. She is the reason no dream deferred will be! We love her unconditionally and through everything because she reciprocates it on a daily!” 
“My mom is my pillar of strength. I am a self-taught artist. My mom was always pushing and encouraging me to be the best version of myself. She always used to say ‘Nothing is impossible if you give your best to it.’ It’s all because of her I am a multi-disciplinary artist. Thank you, Mom (Neelam Jain) for being my biggest cheerleader and critique to date. (I wish she is on Instagram but it’s too technical for her!” 
“My mom, @sally.olin, has encouraged my creative interests and explorations my entire life — cheering me on and challenging me to do my best work and make an impact on our world. And, she and my dad have always SHOWN UP, which is the best thing ever.” 
“My mom has supported my creative passions from the moment I was able to hold a crayon. She didn’t get upset when I showed off my ‘masterpiece’ on my freshly painted bedroom walls, [and] she always made sure we had LOTS of printer paper handy because I ran through it pretty quickly. She always seemed so excited to see my art, even though I’m sure she was tired of me showing her every little sketch I did.” “She put me in art classes that she and my dad had to work overtime to pay for. She has always given me the confidence I needed to pursue art and has always fostered my creativity. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. She is everything.” 
“My momma is the best ever. She took me to every dance, choir and theater rehearsal. She came to every show, held my hand after every failed audition and helped me set up my new classroom when I became a music teacher. She never questioned my love of the arts, but fostered it every step of the way. No way I’d be here without her. Love you.” 
“My mom encouraged me to join [the school] band in middle school to have a fun extracurricular and connect with people, especially because we moved so much and were transplanted in new places over and over. “When I had to rent an instrument, she made it happen – even though she was a single mother and finances were tight. When I wanted to switch to oboe, she found a way to make weekly lessons possible. When I got into the performing arts high school that stipulated only wooden instruments were acceptable, she worked harder and made it possible for me to follow my dreams. She has always been in my corner. I certainly wouldn’t be a musician if she didn’t help me follow my dreams.” 
“We didn’t have much growing up, but my mom was resourceful. She wasn’t an artist, but was creative with what she had. [Ma] upcycled everything because of the harsh economic realities of being immigrants. These were valuable lessons for me. I was inspired by her ability to creatively solve problems. I’ve carried that through my career and life as an artist. Go, Ma!” 
“My mom was my single most important influencer! She made sure I was always involved in creative endeavors. Before I was 16, she drove me to every music lesson, concert, rehearsal and always showed interest. She enrolled me in creative camps every summer, and she opened my eyes to culture with travel throughout Europe 3x before I was 13 years old. “She also made sure I witnessed theater, opera, ballet and was always encouraging me to think outside the box. My mother, Jeanne, and my grandmother, Maria, made sure I had all the tools necessary to become the creative I am today. I miss them both and wish I could tell them how incredible they both were.”  “I have this baby book and it has adorable cartoons beside my pictures and themes for each section. I asked my dad where they found such a cool baby book and he said my mom made it, made each drawing. “I didn’t realize how talented she was. When she saw my talent and passion for art, she pushed it even though she had stopped drawing. We drew a Rugrats mural for my brother’s bedroom and, after that, she deemed me the family artist and has encouraged it through school and my adulthood. She reposts my special effects work, even if it’s too scary for her.” 
“Whew! My mom is THE mom. She’s supportive and shows up for me, my community and the dreams we are aspiring for. She’s my ‘ride-or-die’ and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do or be who I am without her. @maureenbinter, so many people love you (but I love you most).” 
“Meine Mutti is my number one fan! She has been super supportive of my journey and I love that I can tell her ANYTHING! I wish she was on Instagram, but she’s too old school. LOL. Shout out to my mother from another brother, @khajov, for the love and support she continues to give me every day! I’m hella’ lucky to have two dope women to look up to!” 
“My mom was THE BEST! She encouraged me to play, dream and FOLLOW my dreams. She loved for me to sing for her. She toured colleges with me. She made it to every show I was a part of through my days as a theater major. “We weren’t wealthy, but she walked me through the financial process of applying for scholarships/grants/loans so that I could pursue anything I wanted. I am a bodyworker/movement educator now and love to travel and to learn. She lived to see me open my own business. Thanks, Mom! Love you always.” 
“My mom was the first and only person in my life to see and nurture all of my creative endeavors and passions. From music, to art and calligraphy or hair and nails, she saw my interests and dedicated time, resources and tools to ensure I could pursue them all freely. “She was a cosmetologist for 25 years and introduced me to this world of beauty and entrepreneurship I’m so grateful to be a part of today. She taught me strength, tenacity and – through her example – influenced my unstoppable ambition. My world lost its biggest fan in 2017. I miss her every day, but am so beyond grateful to have had her as my mother and guide on this earth. Happy Mother’s Day to her and all the wonderful moms out there. No other job on this earth compares.” 
“My very first picture was done in chalk on an industrial paper roll my mom brought me from the school she worked in at the time. She never stifled my explorations and I am grateful. She would say ‘I don’t know where she gets that from because I can’t draw a stick man.’ LOL. May she continue to rest in peace.” 
“One of my earliest memories is running around the backyard wearing a Batman cape and cowl … both sewn by my mom. I feel bad for people whose parents did not encourage creativity. My mom and dad paved the way for mine. She cheered at every concert, recital, performance or unveiling. She helped make costumes and clean up art supplies. She had to navigate floors papered by stray comic books, find my Han Solo figure encased in blocks of ice in the freezer, read English essays that were pagers longer than required, forgive my desire to deconstruct every toy she ever gave me and endure endless hours of Star Trek and Doctor Who on the television.” I love you, Mom. My life would be drab without you.” 
“This Mother’s Day is hard for me. I miss and love my mama so much. She was not only the role model of my dreams, but she also inspired me to be the best most amazing human being I can be, showing the world love and compassion.” “She inspired my art-loving nature and creating life on canvas or surface. I know she’s with me every day. For those of you that still have your mothers hold them tightly never let them go because there will be a day that you won’t be able to hold her. I miss you every moment and love you mama I work hard every day knowing you’re watching and cheering me on. I love you.” | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |  |
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