Read about upcoming Chicago performer Kendra Pinkelman below. We’ve been lucky enough to have had her in our LA and Boston show. She also came out to support us at our NYC show. Gal is our #1 Groupie and we are thankful for her.
Where do you live and how many kids do you have?
I live in Toledo, Ohio and have for the last 14 years. I have two children, Lilly, age 11, and Sam, age 8. We are also in process of adopting a boy, age 8.
How are you creative post children? How has it changed since pre-baby?
Before children, my extent of creativity was writing in my SARK journal, trying desperately to put all the feelings I had into something magical. Post-baby it wasn’t until Jessica Cribbs shared her involvement with Expressing Motherhood that I remembered there was anything creative within me at all! I have continued to write here and there, but it’s really my submissions for the show that spark me to be diligent with my writing and stay with it.
When do you find time to create?
Being a stay-at-home mom for the last 12 years should afford me tons of time to be creative, right? Unfortunately, I often use my time in other ways. I think that setting aside time to write is crucial and it’s something I don’t do often enough. I had a blog for a few years, but some days I would go to post and just freeze. So now, when an idea hits me, I write. Even if it’s a beginning sentence it’s something that could grow down the road.
How did you hear about Expressing Motherhood?
I saw Jessica Cribbs, my friend from high school, in January ’09. Jess told me all about Expressing Motherhood and I told her I could write a book with all the mothering stories I had. She suggesting submitting a piece, so I did! With my second child I suffered from extreme postpartum struggles, and writing about that time was so freeing. Then, actually being on stage sharing it OUT LOUD changed me forever. Our rehearsals were like therapy and I loved it. I then submitted for Boston in Fall ’10 and the magic continued. It’s an elite club of amazing women I am humbled to be part of!
Do you have a background in acting/writing?
Besides acting in high school productions (which I loved!), no. As far as writing…absolutely none! My degree was in Family Community Service and I worked in juvenile delinquency and the only things I wrote were behavior plans and incident reports.
What creative projects are you up to?
Recently, my creative outlets have been limited, but I thank Expressing Motherhood for coming to Chicago as it has ignited the love of writing once again. I feel writing can really take all the junk I have in my head and put it somewhere else so I can sort through it.
