A lot of parents feel like they’re constantly trying to keep everything moving at once with work, family, creativity, responsibilities, and the never-ending mental load that comes with all of it. But for musician and mom Ellen Doty, motherhood didn’t pull her away from creativity, it changed the way she approaches it entirely.

In this episode, Ellen opens up about how becoming a mother reshaped both her life and her art. We talk about the shift in priorities that comes with parenthood, the challenge of finding time and energy to create, and the surprising ways motherhood has made her more reflective, grounded, and connected to her work.

She shares what it actually looks like to keep a creative career alive in the middle of busy family life, from writing songs during nap times to squeezing in work late at night, and why letting go of unrealistic expectations has been an important part of the process.

We get into:

• Finding creative time in the middle of parenting and everyday chaos
• How motherhood changed her relationship with music and creativity
• The importance of community and support for working parents in the arts
• Navigating the mental load of career, creativity, and family life
• Letting go of perfection and redefining what balance looks like
• Why creativity can become a source of connection instead of pressure

Throughout the conversation, Ellen challenges the idea that motherhood and artistry are somehow at odds with each other. Instead, she shares how parenting has deepened her perspective, strengthened her creativity, and helped her approach both motherhood and music with more intention.

This episode is for creative parents trying to hold onto the parts of themselves they love while raising a family, or anyone who’s ever wondered if there’s still room for ambition, art, and creativity after becoming a parent. It’s an honest reminder that sometimes creativity doesn’t disappear in motherhood - it just evolves alongside you.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

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Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development