What do you do when your younger child is napping and you need to keep your older child occupied and quiet? You spend a lot of money at the craft store, that's what.
You cut paper dolls, paint paper crowns, glue googly eyes and sprinkles and macaroni and lentils and absolutely anything else onto brightly-coloured construction paper, let it dry and hang it on the fridge (if you can find room). And if you're as lucky as I am, you really enjoy it.
Oh, and you add a drop of dish soap to the paint so that it more easily washes off of skin and fabrics. I learned that one from a friend; feel free to pass it on.
But most importantly, you take a few moments to enjoy watching your child concentrate solely on creating something. It may look like a bunch of splattered paint, but there's a considerable amount of thought that goes into those swirls and dabs. It can be pretty mesmerizing to watch.
The paint, lentils, sparkles, googly eyes and random pieces of snipped paper will be everywhere. It's inevitable. You will get better at anticipating the degree of chaos and become more organized. Cleanup will get easier. Remember that it's a win-win situation; your child loves it and you will love it because they do.
And when they're done, they're done. You can encourage them to help you clean up, but don't expect volunteers. Be firm; you both made the mess together, so you both should clean it up. Having them put things in the garbage or recycling is a good place to start. Pretty soon they'll be wanting to help you wash the brushes.
And once the artwork is on the fridge, the craft supplies are put away and your younger child is awake, you get to look forward to doing it all again tomorrow. ...Look forward? Yeah, I guess so...
Crafts and kids are so much alike: so exhausting, so rewarding, totally worth it.
Great series. What a difference digital makes in reactions. A camera used to mean 'Be still and smile' but now, to Sonya and her generation, it's an extension of a parent's eyes.
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