Today's book for SWAP is 'The Divided Heart' by Rachel Power. It's one of the best non fiction books I've read this year. 'Australia's most respected artists, writers and actors speak frankly about the wrench between motherhood and an artistic life.
Rachel Power navigates trough the divided heart of these exceptional women to reveal shocking, funny and moving truth of the overwhelming demands of motherhood and an undiminished passion for their work. A Divided heart; a split self; the fear that to succeed at one means to fail at the other. Rachel Power talks to great Australian artists such as Rachel Griffiths, Clare Bowditch, Joanna Murray- Smith, Sarah Watt etc. 
The book is close to my heart as I see mother Artists struggle with this issue all the time. One of the reasons I started Creative Mums was to give mums with Creative Professions a platform to exchange experiences on this level and to support each other. For example to be able to arrange business meetings while having children around. I know from experience few men can deal with interruptions from children while discussing business. 
We motherly women have the gift of this extra ordinary skill to pick up a conversation without the slightest distraction and continue with a same intensity. This could mean a spilled water cup, a stinky pooh, a bleeding knee or a simple cuddle for attention. Any men would have made a note - 'NOT professiona'l or maybe 'waste of time'...haha.... Only full time mothers know what a hand full kids can be and what an effort it takes to be a full time carer. For part time mothers it's the same..but we talk about part - TIME. So not all the time. I admire any mother who has made a career or stayed a professional artist while raising their kids - par time or full time. Many older Mum- Artists have told me they wished Creative Mums was around when their children were young. Most of them said they had to put their artistic career on hold while caring for their brood. As Rachel Power writes in her book The Divided Heart: 'Historically, the clash between art and life has meant that 'great' women artists have been with few exceptions, childless throughout their working lives. 'You missed me again and this wonderful book! What about tomorrow another book another exchange, a new opportunity for a great or terrible read!
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