Finding the Magic in the Everyday: A Conversation with Kerri Cunningham of Murphy’s Sketches
Motherhood is often described in grand terms, but the reality is usually found in quieter places, in muddy boots by the door, in the crumbs of biscuits shared in the kitchen, or in the fleeting moments when a child pauses to marvel at something small. These are the moments that illustrator and writer Kerri Cunningham, known through Murphy’s Sketches, captures so beautifully in her new book, All of My Days.
Through sketches, poems and reflections, the book explores the emotional landscape of motherhood: the joy, the exhaustion, the chaos, and the small glimmers of magic that appear in ordinary moments. We spoke to Kerri about the inspiration behind the book, the importance of slowing down, and why the difficult days deserve just as much space on the page as the beautiful ones.
Kerri, congratulations on the launch of All of My Days. Can you take us back to the moment you realised these sketches and poems needed to become a book? Was there a specific ‘ordinary’ moment that acted as the catalyst?
I’ve been writing these poems and reflections for a few years now, and it has always been a dream of mine to gather them together into a book. I began by sharing small pieces of my writing and artwork online, mostly as a way of processing my own experiences of motherhood. What I didn’t expect was how many other mums would connect with those words.
The response was incredibly warm. Women would message to say something I had written felt like a mirror to their own day or their own feelings. That meant so much to me. Over time, the idea of creating one place where mums could return to those words, for comfort, reassurance, or simply to feel seen, became really important.
I had already been working with Fox & Ink since 2022, when we published my first children’s book, There Is a Season. When my publisher Hazel mentioned they were now publishing books for adults as well, it felt like the right time. I knew then that the poems about motherhood deserved their own home, and that was the beginning of All of My Days.
How has your perspective on documenting motherhood changed?
My perspective has changed a great deal since I first started writing these poems. When my youngest son was born in 2021, I took a break from commissioned illustration work. That pause gave me time to write and draw more freely, simply for myself.
Life with three young children was chaotic, of course, but it was a happy chaos and we were embracing it day by day. Then when my youngest was around 18 months old, we started noticing some changes. He stopped waving and clapping, and he lost the small amount of language he had begun to develop. Eventually, when he was three, he was diagnosed with autism.
That moment changed my experience of motherhood quite profoundly. Suddenly I was navigating something entirely new. When I read some of the poems I wrote before that time, they feel very emotional because I see them through a different lens now.
But I think that is part of motherhood. It is constantly changing and evolving. It can bring challenges that you never expected, and those experiences shape the way you see the world. My writing now reflects that journey, the uncertainty, the learning, and the growth that comes with it.
Your work often feels like a collective exhale for mums, a moment of reflection in the everyday. Why do you think your perspective resonates so strongly?
I think it’s because my words are very ordinary. I’m just a mum muddling through day by day like everyone else. Some days are joyful, some are exhausting, and most fall somewhere in between.
There are days when you’re laughing so much you could cry with happiness, and others when you’re hiding in the kitchen eating custard creams because you need a moment to yourself. Most mothers recognise those feelings.
If someone opens the book and sees something of their own life reflected in those pages, that means everything to me. Motherhood is extraordinary, but it is made up of so many small, everyday moments. Those are the moments worth celebrating.
Nature and the seasons often appear in your work. How does getting outside influence your creativity or your peace of mind as a mother?
Getting outside is incredibly important for our family. All of our children love being outdoors, and so do we. It can completely transform a difficult day.
You might be having a stressful morning, but a walk in the fresh air often shifts everything. Suddenly the children are running, climbing and exploring, and the mood changes.
For my youngest especially, being outside is where he thrives. Nature gives him the freedom to move, to be noisy, to be messy and simply be himself.
Nature also inspires my creative work. You can see that influence in my children’s books, but it appears in the poems as well. When children spend time outdoors, their imagination comes alive, and I think that sense of wonder inspires adults too.
In a fast-paced world, All of My Days feels like an invitation to slow down. What advice would you give mums who want to notice the magic in the mundane?
Slowing down can feel very difficult when you are a mother. We are always busy, always moving, always thinking about the next thing that needs to be done.
My hope is that this book offers mums a small pause in the middle of all that. A chance to take a breath and reflect.
I often write about the passing of time, because that is something you feel very strongly as a parent. Children grow so quickly and the seasons of motherhood change before we are quite ready for them.
But the magic is usually hidden in the smallest moments. The conversations in the car, the muddy walks, the bedtime stories, the quiet cuddles. When we focus on those little things and block out some of the noise around us, we begin to see how meaningful they really are.
Which poem or illustration in the book best captures that sense of childhood wonder for you?
There is a poem called “With Wonder”, which I wrote about my youngest son, although it really reflects all three of my children. It is about the way children see beauty everywhere, especially outdoors. They remind us to slow down and notice things we might otherwise rush past.
Another poem that feels very special to me is “The Sunflowers.” Every year we visit a sunflower field as a family. The first time we went my eldest son was about four or five years old. He is ten now, and every year I notice how much taller he has grown.
Watching him run through the field, often chasing his little brother between the rows of flowers, is such a poignant reminder of how quickly childhood moves. I am so glad he still enjoys that tradition with us.
You are an illustrator, an author and a mum. How do you balance creativity with family life?
Like most mums, I find managing time incredibly difficult. We are pulled in many directions every day.
What helps is that my work is so inspired by my children. They constantly give me ideas. Sometimes I quickly write a line or a thought in the notes on my phone so I don’t forget it.
The challenge is finding time later to turn those ideas into finished work. But motherhood and creativity are very connected for me, so in many ways they support one another.
Our audience includes many grandmothers and aunties. How does All of My Days speak to the village of women around motherhood?
There are many poems in the book that reflect the support we receive from other women, whether they are friends, relatives or fellow mums.
That sense of community is incredibly important. My own mum is 75 now and she has raised four children and nine grandchildren. She is a very important voice in my life.
Especially when I am worrying about something with my youngest, she has a wonderful way of helping me see the good in situations when I might only be focusing on the negatives. Those generational relationships are such an important part of the motherhood journey.
You don’t shy away from the exhaustion or the invisible load of motherhood. Why was it important to include the difficult days alongside the beautiful ones?
Because they are a real part of motherhood.
There will always be days when you feel overwhelmed, worried or burnt out. The invisible load that mothers carry can feel incredibly heavy.
One thing that always helps is hearing someone else say those feelings out loud. It reminds you that you are not alone.
I would never want anyone to think I have everything perfectly together, because that would not be true. I love being a mum and I hope that comes through in my writing, but some days it completely floors me. Those difficult days deserve space on the page too.
When a reader closes the final page of All of My Days, what is the one feeling or thought you hope lingers with them?
I hope readers recognise pieces of their own lives in the book. If the poems allow someone to reflect on their own experiences of motherhood, then it has done what I hoped it would do.
More than anything, I want it to feel like a hug from one mum to another.
With the book now out in the world, what are you most looking forward to in this new chapter?
I feel incredibly proud that this book has finally come to life. Hearing readers share their reactions has been such a lovely experience.
What I am most excited about now is seeing more mums discover it, read it, and hopefully share it with others. If it becomes something that women pass on to friends, sisters or mothers, that would be the biggest compliment of all.
And hopefully, this is only the beginning. I would love to continue writing and creating more work in the future.
Join the Village
Motherhood is a journey best shared. At our classes, you can meet other parents, share experiences, and build the kind of supportive village that makes all the highs and lows a little easier. Whether it’s through play, exploration, or simply taking a moment to breathe together, these connections can be as nourishing as the words in All of My Days.
You can grab your own copy of Kerri Cunningham’s book, signed and ready to inspire, here: Buy All of My Days.
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