As a creative person, I find other people’s creativity a wonderful well of inspiration from which to draw. I love to hear from other people regarding their creative journeys—their struggles, their celebrations, their newest artistic pursuits. That’s why I count myself quite fortunate to live with two fellow creative artists who each invent stories, illustrate story ideas or nuggets, and sketch new and original characters. What I love is their willingness to share those creations with me because as a writer, I understand what it means to invite someone into that circle of artistry and expression. And I love getting to be invited into their creative worlds.

It can happen at any point during the day. Sometimes new character art happens during our unschooling times, when I am reading our Mystery of History book or when we are exploring a nonfiction picture book with an interesting angle on a fascinating person, like Abraham Lincoln and his sense of humor and propensity for telling jokes or Mark Twain and his 13 year old daughter Susy’s biography of her papa. Other times, the creative itch strikes during the bedtime routine and the artist has to complete the character sketch before calling it a day. My favorite is when we are all sitting in our cozy living space, each of us working on something we enjoy or reading a book.

Whenever it happens, it is marked by a similar pattern—the gleam of accomplishment twinkling in their eyes, a slight smile turning up the corner of the mouth, and the palpable excitement in the invitation, do you want to see the drawing I just finished? Always, the answer is, yes! Like their pattern of revealing their latest creation, I have noted my sense of anticipation in hearing their invitation, as if there is electricity in the air between us as they approach with their iPad or their sketchbook hugged to their chest. I know what is coming and for one or two additional moments I like to allow myself to relish that sense of expectancy that comes on the heels of creativity, of having just created something freshly captured on the page.

If you are a creative person, I am certain you are familiar with that moment; not long before, the now-finished piece was a but an idea flitting through the air, through the air and into your mind, and there, you took hold of it and worked to bring it into being. To be allowed to share that moment with the artist is nothing less than magical because it is filled with such vulnerability. It is an act of deep faith that says I am going to trust you with something incredibly personal. If anyone has ever dared share with you a piece of their art, or if you have invited someone into your creativity, I’m guessing you can appreciate how courageous an act that is.

That is why I embrace that sense of anticipation just before either of my teenagers speaks that invitation aloud. I love the energy and the connection formed in the space between us, making that space safe for sharing freshly created art. For a moment, I hold my breath and watch my teenage artist’s face, her own anticipation flashing in her eyes in the moment right before the words cross her lips, do you want to see the drawing I just finished? or do you want to read the story I’m working on? The moment of anticipation is almost as amazing as the art itself. Almost. Because truly the art they create is as amazing as these two young women themselves. But that isn’t really surprising to me.