This week on CPC, we’re sharing a new episode of the Creative Parenting Podcast with Stasya Mindlina, an event organizer and editor, now part of the Kinder Rave and Creative Parenting Club team, and a single mom who fled Kyiv for Berlin following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In this episode, Stasya speaks about building a life with a young child abroad and navigating the demands of single parenthood. She discusses safety, routine, and the importance of reliable support systems.
She also talks about spending time together with her child in everyday life. From moving through the city together to dancing wherever possible, she describes trust, closeness, and moments of fun within daily routines.
Creativity appears here as a practical resource rather than an identity, a way to maintain energy and presence while carrying full responsibility for the family.
You can listen to the full conversation by pressing play at the top, or continue reading below for the shortened written version.
If you haven’t yet read our previous interview with singer and saxophonist Jessie Evans on making art with limited time, carrying creative frustration, and learning patience through children, you can find it here:
Thank you for reading and for being part of the Creative Parenting Club community.
[Creative Parenting Club - Diego Ain]
Welcome to the Creative Parenting Club, Stasya, it’s a pleasure to have you on board!
[Stasya Mindlina]
For me as well! Hello, Diego.
[CPC]
Stasya, I would like to start by asking you, where are you from, and where do you live now?
[Stasya]
I’m from Kyiv, Ukraine, and I’ve been living in Berlin for almost four years now.
[CPC]
And you came from Ukraine because of the situation there, I would guess. Is that correct?
[Stasya]
Yeah, I come because of the war, the full-scale invasion.
[CPC]
So you left with a two-year-old kid.
[Stasya]
Yeah, it was a few days before he turned two.
[CPC]
What do you do professionally, Stasya, and what does that look like?
[Stasya]
My main focus now is event coordination. In the past, back in Ukraine, I used to mix event organization, team management, and editorial work. Now I am focused more on event organization.
[CPC]
Stasya, so the core of our club, the Creative Parenting Club, is around creativity. And I’d like to ask you, what creativity is for you?
[Stasya]
Good question. I think creativity is about the space where I let myself hear what actually means a lot to me, what is important to me, and let myself, as much as possible, do all kinds of things that matter to me.
[CPC]
Beautiful. And it’s very interesting because I’ve been recording many interviews this week, and a lot of people are sharing kind of the same perspective of creativity being the safest space where one can be oneself, right? It’s very interesting. What role does creativity play in your life, Stasya?
[Stasya]
In the traditional meaning, if we speak about art, music, movies, books, and so on, it plays a big role. But I’m not sure it’s always about that. I think it’s more about the freedom and safety to do anything important for yourself. So it plays a big role for me.
[CPC]
So is it correct to say that creativity plays a role of therapy in your life?
[Stasya]
Kind of a self-support, I would say.
[CPC]
And how do you incorporate creativity into your family life?
[Stasya]
I think it’s about bringing together the things that are important to me and my child in this case. Some freedom that we want to have and try to connect with our daily routine. It takes some creativity and is not possible sometimes. It’s also about understanding what is important at the moment and giving it some time and space. So I would call this creativity in our life.
[CPC]
And do you have any creative hobbies or passions in the more traditional sense?
[Stasya]
I’m really into dancing recently.
[CPC]
Any specific genre of dance?
[Stasya]
No, at the moment I don’t attend any classes. But I use any opportunity to dance, to move freely, either at home, alone or with my child, at parties, or just while listening to music. It’s really good for me. I’ve only realized this recently, and now I’m very sure about it.
[CPC]
That’s so cool. It’s true. Dancing is such a powerful thing for humans. And did becoming a parent change your relationship with money?
[Stasya]
Yes, especially recently. Money plays a role in feeling safe and understanding that I can cover our needs, mine and my child’s needs. This is the first thing. And not just that, but allowing ourselves what we want and becoming a bit happier from this. That’s why it also means a lot. Little pleasures, big pleasures, travel, buying nice things. And of course, to feel safe.
[CPC]
So is it correct to say that it’s changing the way that you prioritize it, or more in a practical aspect? What was the change?
[Stasya]
The change in the last few years is that now I’m the main source of family income. For this reason, I need to be sure that I have a stable income to live our lives comfortably. When I was in a partnership, we were both sources of income, and now it’s more about me.
[CPC]
So you’re a single mom?
[Stasya]
Yes, I am.
[CPC]
That’s powerful. And did you come to Berlin alone or with a partner?
[Stasya]
We came together. Later, with the circumstances, we split up, and the father of my child returned to Ukraine. I stayed in Berlin with my son.
[CPC]
That’s a big challenge in itself, right?
[Stasya]
That’s true.
[CPC]
How do you find time for your creative passions while balancing family life?
[Stasya]
That’s challenging, but I do find time because it’s really important and keeps me going. My mom lives here, not with us, but also in Berlin. We are a close family. She supports me a lot, she stays with my kid at least once a week. I also met other people who have been supporting me and have given me time. It’s not very regular, but it still means a lot.
[CPC]
And it’s a huge privilege that your mom is around, right? On many levels. It’s your mom, your son’s grandmother, and the weekly support.
[Stasya]
Yes, it’s really great. And luckily, we are in a good relationship. We understand each other. She really loves my son, he loves her back, and that works well.
[CPC]
How do you incorporate your kid into your creative life?
[Stasya]
When it comes to dancing, that’s probably the easiest, because sometimes we can do it together. I often bring my kid along wherever I go. At home, there’s more routine and less energy and time left for creativity. But we adjust to each other and still find ways to do fun things together.
[CPC]
Being a single mom who came from Ukraine, running from a war, is a very powerful life experience. How long have you been a single mom?
[Stasya]
Two and a half years.
[CPC]
What is one very powerful thing you learned from this experience?
[Stasya]
That I can do basically anything. It was challenging and not easy in many ways. At the same time, it gave me a deeper understanding of my strength, a sense of inner support, and the ability to solve all kinds of problems. That made me feel much more confident about my life.
[CPC]
And if you could share a thought or advice with a mom who is becoming single right now, what would you share?
[Stasya]
It was extremely important for me to really listen to myself and stick to what’s better for me and not to forget about it, as we are better parents when we take care of ourselves. I was sure about many decisions, and that gave me direction on how to move forward. Moving step by step and solving issues one by one, not everything at once.
[CPC]
Is there something you would have done differently?
[Stasya]
I don’t know, I did great. I’m really proud of myself. One more thing that made me feel much better was being surrounded by a few people who supported me a lot. It’s very helpful to have your team around.
[CPC]
What is one regret you have about having kids?
[Stasya]
Early mornings. It’s still very hard for me.
[CPC]
Is there something you regret not having done before becoming a parent?
[Stasya]
I would have done things differently. Communicating better with a partner, especially before the first child, when neither of you knows what’s about to come. Talking more about routine, daily tasks, emotional support, and being sure you’re on the same page.
[CPC]
It’s like drawing a roadmap to a place you’ve never been. We plan vacations with much more detail than having kids. Having a kid is like becoming an entrepreneur with zero investigation.
[Stasya]
Absolutely!
[CPC]
What is the biggest challenge you face as a creative parent?
[Stasya]
The biggest challenge is doing things that matter to me and keep me going. At the same time, to follow the kid’s routine. Having energy, enough sleep, emotional and physical capacity to deal with the child’s emotions. It all has to be in one person. This is quite challenging.
[CPC]
How could you solve this challenge?
[Stasya]
The more people are involved, the easier it gets. But it works if you share the same values and approaches.
[CPC]
One thing your parents told you that you now find yourself saying?
[Stasya]
I keep repeating the same thing when I want my child to do something. I don’t like doing this, but I keep doing it.
[CPC]
If you could guarantee your child learned one thing, what would that be?
[Stasya]
Self-awareness. That he would understand himself well, know what he feels, what matters to him, understand other people, and be more empathetic.
[CPC]
To finish on a high note, what are you proud of in your family life?
[Stasya]
I manage quite well to be a safe space for my child and, at the same time, set boundaries. He has support, and we have closeness, trust, and fun.
[CPC]
It’s beautiful to listen to that. I’m very happy that you’re proud of it. These are things that are really nice and important.
Thank you very much for your time, for being so sincere, and for sharing your reality and your thoughts with us.
[Stasya]
Thank you, too.
A sincere thank you to Stasya for taking the time to speak with us.
What helps you keep going when most of the responsibility sits with you? We welcome your thoughts in the comments.
If you’d like to take part in a future Creative Parenting conversation, or suggest someone whose story fits here, feel free to get in touch.
More conversations ahead.
Thank you for reading.
