Ordinary life is better together. Our new series, Family Habits, introduces creative parents and families, what they've learned about play, and their tips for appreciating the present moment with loved ones. In our latest installment, we hear from graphic designer and author/illustrator Amanda Jane Jones.
Golden yellow school buses ease down the road. Pens and pencils in primary colors sit at the ready. Dark denim jackets and crisp white sneakers are tucked and tied. These details make up a small fraction of the back-to-school palette. Aesthetics (and age!) aside, this season always ignites our senses and creativity. Our friend Amanda Jane Jones—a renowned graphic designer, author/illustrator, and mother of three—understands this idea well.
From illustrating The Hair Book to designing prints for Schoolhouse Electric to serving as Kinfolk's founding designer and co-creator, Jones has lent her creative prowess to various projects—she also knows a thing or two about balancing art and (family) life. "My kids are always creating things," she shares. "When I'm working on paper cuts for my books, they are right there with me. It's just a part of life in our house. They know they don't need permission to start a project because the supplies are just there, ready to go. Messy projects stay in the playroom, though—for my mental health and sanity! My biggest hurdle is figuring out what to do with it all."
Ahead, Jones shares more about her family's habits, thoughts on business and motherhood, and a sneak peek at her exciting new book project.
What is an ordinary habit that best describes you at this point in your life?
One of my regular ordinary habits is my morning walks. I walk my kids to school and then take some extra time to hike in the mountains when I can. It clears my mind and helps me start my day better.
What is an ordinary habit that best describes your family unit?
I'd have to say morning cuddles. Everyone insists we wake up a little bit early so we can all pile into bed and snuggle before the day gets crazy. It's really the sweetest way to start the day. I'm glad they are all still young enough to think it's essential!
As a graphic designer and children's book author/illustrator, storytelling is a big part of what you do and who you are. We asked a version of this question in our first Family Habits interview with Angela Tafoya, but we think it's applicable here, too: What are your thoughts on the narrative around "being present?" As a mother and creative, what were you told about staying present, and what about the narrative do you want to change or expand upon?
Oh! I love this question! I had a very warped view of what motherhood should look like when I started my journey. I grew up in a conservative community, and women were very much encouraged to make motherhood their whole identity—almost a martyr mentality. As a woman who has always worked (and I adore what I do!), this always felt at odds with me. I love being a mom, but it's not my only identity. I wore myself ragged in my first year of motherhood: working at 4 am, never asking for help, and not taking care of myself. I started to watch and learn from other mothers around me and very soon realized that I needed some drastic changes and boundaries!
We hired help. My husband and I split the home and family responsibilities more equally. I prioritized my mental and physical health and set regular work hours for myself between the hours of 9 and 5 pm. It was absolutely freeing to realize there wasn't one true way to be a successful and loving family! I'm a much better—and more present—parent when I take time for myself. In fact, I find our kids have flourished with more emotionally healthy adults in their lives and more one-on-one time with both their parents, rather than just me trying to do it all. I talk so much about this in my new book, Mother / Founder. My co-author Jennifer Fernandez and I included interviews from 68 mothers who also founded their own companies. They share the best perspectives about parenthood and how they manage the ebbs and flows of work/life balance.
Tell us more about the origins of Mother/Founder and how it's changed your perspective on family, business, and connection. What role did your own mothering experiences have in informing the book? What have you learned about your family and yourself as a result of the project?
This has been my favorite topic for the last three years as we meticulously created this book. It's been a labor of love, but one we have been so happy to labor on.
The idea for the book came about when my agent asked me if I would ever consider a nonfiction book for adults. I said no right away. What did I have to offer? She then asked the right questions, and I realized that I did, in fact, have something worth sharing. A decade's experience of being self-employed.
When I was working full-time at a design studio, we barely made enough to stay afloat, and my days felt long and monotonous. We knew if we wanted to have kids, we needed to change things up. My salary barely covered our living expenses (my husband was a student for the first ten years of our marriage), never mind adding another little person and childcare to the equation. Impossible. So, I started to pursue a freelance career in my spare time. Shortly, we realized that I could make so much more and have so much more flexibility if I branched out on my own.
For me, it's a choice that I've never regretted. Not once. My personality thrives in the self-employed environment. And even more as a parent. I manage my hours, my time, and my projects. I'm doing the work I love, and I get to be home when my kids get sick and be there when they get home. I get to pick what's important to me and prioritize those things. But what works for me doesn't work for everyone! So that's why we enlisted so many other perspectives for the book. We have women who went to Harvard versus women who lost their jobs during the pandemic and had to scramble to figure something out. We have single mothers, immigrant mothers, and mothers who work with their families or spouses. This ensures that I can confidently say, most readers will see themselves reflected with at least one of the stories in the book, and feel empowered to take control of their professional future.
Mother / Founder comes out later this fall, but we’re sure the season overall is kicking into high gear! What are your favorite back-to-school habits?
We are better at this some days than others. As kids get older with more activities and homework, it's hard to make after school not feel like a crazy whirlwind. We always cuddle and read books together with each kid, which is a sweet bonding time. It takes a long time, but we know it's important for our family and that connection. We try to end all days on a good note. We also try our best to keep weekends for strictly family time. It's our day to be together.
Family Habits with Amanda Jane Jones
A habit that inspires your family's creativity: Family portrait night!
A habit your family taught you to build: Finding joy in the mundane parts of life.
A habit that makes you feel more present with your kids: Putting my phone away.
A habit you hope to cultivate together: [Making] our family and home a safe space, always and forever.
A habit you're cultivating for back-to-school season: Being more organized so we aren't so rushed.
A puzzle you'd like to assemble alongside your family: I picked the Christmas puzzle! It's become our Christmas Eve tradition to do a puzzle together. I can't wait to do this one! Shop the Christmas Bundle
A journaling prompt you'd like to give to the Ordinary Habit community related to family, play, or presence: What things bring you the most joy? How can I make more time for it?