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The ‘Think Outside the Box’ Mom
This week, I found myself sitting down with my 5-year-old son, Max, for some arts and crafts—what he affectionately refers to as “arts and craps.” Let’s just say I won’t correct him; it’s a pretty accurate description of how I feel about these activities. Max wanted to create a snowman, but after the eleventy-billionth snowman we’ve made this season, I suggested we try a Valentine’s craft instead.
“How about we draw and cut out a big heart?” I proposed. “Then we can decorate it.” Not exactly a Pinterest project, but hey, he’s only 5.
“Okayyyyy,” he replied, eyeing the markers with a hint of skepticism.
“Make sure to draw it big enough so we have space to decorate,” I encouraged him.
“Mmhmm,” he nodded, his tongue poking out in concentration.
What he produced was less of a heart and more akin to a wrinkly old person’s backside.
“Oh sweetheart, do you need help drawing a heart?” (The famous last words of many a parent.) I tried everything—drawing dashed lines for him to connect, guiding his hand, and even drawing it myself so he could trace over it. Twenty minutes and 30 failed attempts later, I began to hear the familiar cacophony of those inner Mom Voices, each vying for attention.
The Mean Mom was furious, “Seriously?! Why can’t this kid get it? He’s failing at arts and craps!”
The Guilty Mom chimed in, wringing her hands, “This is my fault. I’m failing at motherhood. I should spend more time crafting with him. I’m just not enough.”
The Tired Mom was on the verge of collapse, whispering, “Can’t we just ditch this and watch TV instead?”
The Cheerleader Mom was doing cartwheels, yelling, “If you can’t do it, nobody can!”
The Lushy Mom (also known as Chardonnay-nay) was glancing at her watch, pondering, “Is it too early for a glass of wine?”
The Melodramatic Mom was in tears, clutching markers and construction paper, lamenting, “I’m worthless! I can’t even teach my kid to draw a heart! Death by a thousand paper cuts!”
Finally, the Think-Outside-the-Box Mom cut through the chaos and said to Max, “How about we start with a capital ‘V’? Great! Now make two little peaks on top of that ‘V.’ Yes! You did it, buddy! You drew a heart!”
And lo and behold, he did! But after that monumental effort, Max was too wiped out to continue with the rest of the craft, and honestly, I was relieved. I was already late for my date with Chardonnay-nay.
If you’re looking for more insights and tips on home insemination, check out this post on intracervical insemination. Also, for those interested in the tools for a successful pregnancy journey, Make A Mom has some great resources. And for an excellent guide on treating infertility, visit ACOG.
Summary
This humorous reflection on a crafting activity with a young child highlights the challenges parents face while trying to teach and engage their kids in creative projects. Amid the chaos of inner voices, a clever solution emerges when embracing a different approach, showing that sometimes, thinking outside the box leads to unexpected success.