Sure, there are days I miss having my kids around, actually, almost every day for at least a few minutes. But I do have to say that now that I’m getting more used to them all being gone I can truly say it does have its benefits. Check out my list of 18 Things Only Midlife Creative Women Will Understand – which can you relate to? Which are you looking forward to?

1. You love your children with all of your heart but you dream of being able to knit, sew, make art in a time span of hours rather than seconds.
2. You know you’re gonna miss that kid but you’ve dreamed of turning his room into the ultimate craft studio for ages.
3. You can sympathize with moms getting ready for back to school but you smile to yourself knowing you can spend your money on art supplies instead.
4. You can use your adult daughter as a dress form or model.
5. You can leave a project out knowing no little fingers will disturb it.
6. You can leave sharp objects lying around
7. Your sewing machine tension stays right where you left it.
8. You can swear at a dropped stitch and not worry about little ears.
9. You can drag a big project out to cover the dining room table and eat in the livingroom. With a book. For days at a time.
10. There is no one but you to blame for tracking through the wet paint and then the rest of the house.
11. You can jump out of bed and into the studio without thinking twice.
12. You can work as late as you want.
13. And eat in any room of the house.
14. You can have the girls over for a creative evening – or weekend.
15. If your creativity expands to include decorating or painting the house there will be no teens around to judge the results.
16. You can make a blanket fort to draw in and not have to share it.
17. You can create in your underwear (or less) if you want to.
18. You can buy the better quality art supplies and not feel guilty about it.