--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I became a parent and hit my…" description: "\"When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet, simple songs at home and, with a little enco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg" --- # When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands… ![“When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet, simple songs at home and, with a little encouragement, I got more courage and found my voice. I have people and movements who have inspired me to carry on, but I try to write about things I…” quote by Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg) > “When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet, simple songs at home and, with a little encouragement, I got more courage and found my voice. I have people and movements who have inspired me to carry on, but I try to write about things I know, nothing too complicated, really.” [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding a creative outlet in adulthood can unlock confidence and a personal voice, especially with supportive communities. **In simple terms:** Music helped me find confidence and voice as a parent. Key Takeaway Seek supportive communities to nurture creativity. Themes creativity confidence growth community Mood hopeful determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - parenting - mid‑life career change - personal development Key Concepts self‑expression artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What creative activity could you start today? - Who can support your artistic growth? A Different Perspective Creative pursuits can be intimidating without prior experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acoustic guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-guitar/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Movements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movements/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Thirties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirties/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I remember writing Sunday Morning' and Gwen wasn't feeling well that day and I had an acoustic guitar and I started singing, Somebody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/i-remember-writing-sunday-morning-and-gwen-wasn-t-feeling-well-that/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [At 13, I loved how so many of my peers sang and played acoustic guitar, so I started recording videos with covers of famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/at-13-i-loved-how-so-many-of-my-peers-sang-and-played-acoustic-guitar/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I got a toy guitar at a fundraiser and was trying to write songs with it that were ridiculous. After a week, my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/i-got-a-toy-guitar-at-a-fundraiser-and-was-trying-to-write-songs-with/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog. I had fun trying to duplicate what I was hearing on these records, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-got-this-christmas-gift-with-the-entire-beatles-catalog-i-had-fun/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I write almost all my songs on an acoustic guitar, even if they turn into rock songs, hard rock songs, metal songs, heavy metal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-write-almost-all-my-songs-on-an-acoustic-guitar-even-if-they-turn/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I was 16 when I started playing. I borrowed a friend's acoustic guitar, and I had a Beatles chord book. I just taught myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-daniel/i-was-16-when-i-started-playing-i-borrowed-a-friend-s-acoustic-guitar/) [Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-daniel/) > [I started on acoustic guitar after I heard Leadbelly and Big Bill Broonzy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/i-started-on-acoustic-guitar-after-i-heard-leadbelly-and-big-bill/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [My parents got me a $25 Kent steel-string acoustic guitar when I was around 12. The following Christmas, my parents bought me a Conora…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/my-parents-got-me-a-25-kent-steel-string-acoustic-guitar-when-i-was/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [I don't touch electric guitars. It's just not my thing - I stick with acoustic guitars only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-don-t-touch-electric-guitars-it-s-just-not-my-thing-i-stick-with/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [And I only really like to play the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/and-i-only-really-like-to-play-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-love-the-subtlety-and-tonal-range-of-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I did a smaller gig with an acoustic guitar and a drum machine. In one song, something wrong happened with the drum machine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violante-placido/i-did-a-smaller-gig-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and-a-drum-machine-in-one/) [Violante Placido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violante-placido/) > [My stuff was more of a folk coffeehouse thing, with more acoustic guitar, just me doing a single, and then adding on instruments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hicks/my-stuff-was-more-of-a-folk-coffeehouse-thing-with-more-acoustic/) [Dan Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hicks/) > [One of the signature things about Heart was the acoustic guitar in a rock format, which you didn't hear that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/one-of-the-signature-things-about-heart-was-the-acoustic-guitar-in-a/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) ## More by Withered Hand > [I have to have some kind of creative outlet; otherwise, I'm hell to be around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-have-to-have-some-kind-of-creative-outlet-otherwise-i-m-hell-to-be/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I think the last album I bought was a very beautiful album called 'Lost Wisdom' by Mount Eerie featuring Julie Doiron, and I bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-think-the-last-album-i-bought-was-a-very-beautiful-album-called/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I grew up listening to Teenage Fanclub and Eugenius. Scottish music cast a huge influence on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-grew-up-listening-to-teenage-fanclub-and-eugenius-scottish-music/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I can get a tune out of most things with strings, but I'm not really sure I'm what could be called a musician. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-can-get-a-tune-out-of-most-things-with-strings-but-i-m-not-really/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [My favourite place is at home with my family. My career is really raising my children. I'm still waiting for clarity on the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/my-favourite-place-is-at-home-with-my-family-my-career-is-really/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [Although I didn't set out to run my own label, I found it made sense quite quickly. I can say what I want and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/although-i-didn-t-set-out-to-run-my-own-label-i-found-it-made-sense/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I would describe my songs as just a collection of my thoughts, with melodies that probably occurred to me in the grocery store or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-would-describe-my-songs-as-just-a-collection-of-my-thoughts-with/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [I had a kind of artrock band called Peanut for a while, which eventually helped me over my fear of singing. That was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-had-a-kind-of-artrock-band-called-peanut-for-a-while-which/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) [Explore all 9 Withered Hand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet, simple songs at home and, with a little encouragement, I got more courage and found my voice. I have people and movements who have inspired me to carry on, but I try to write about things I know, nothing too complicated, really.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Withered Hand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirties-i-got-my-hands-on-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirties-i-got-my-hands-on-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/withered-hand-44965_about_when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirti_1705970.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I became a parent and hit my thirties, I got my hands on an acoustic guitar. I started writing quiet…” — Withered Hand", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Withered Hand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I became a parent and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirties-i-got-my-hands-on-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/when-i-became-a-parent-and-hit-my-thirties-i-got-my-hands-on-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```