Mad Skills

Yep, that would be me.  Well, the three of us, actually. . . Charlie, Chanelle, and I.  We’ve got mad skills. 

You are probably wondering what I’m talking about. . .

I’m referring to that little paper mache project we started last week.  If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, click here.  Oh yes, we finished our “works of art” and I know that you’ve been waiting with bated breath to see the final product.  Don’t worry, the big reveal is coming. . . but a few thoughts first. . .

I am not at all creative.  In fact, I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.  Growing up, I was intimidated by anything art-related (outside of coloring in a coloring book).  I wasn’t a huge fan of art class.  Both of my siblings have raw, natural talent when it comes to all things creative. . . me, on the other hand, not so much. For example. . .

Mom:  “Oh, Summer, what a beautiful drawing of a. . . uhhh. . . hmmm. . .  puppy?”
Me:  “It’s not a puppy, it’s a flower.” 

Anyway, I say all this to make the point that the craft-type things I do with the kids are, well, new territory. It’s funny, though.  I’m finding that I love it.  I’m not real good at it. . . but I love it!  I’m learning to love the smell of paint that speckles my kitchen floor, and watching the kids as their mouths move with the action of the scissors, and even the mess of it all doesn’t bother me.

Having kids has forced me out of my comfort zone in order to create better experiences for them.  It has also forced me to learn how to put aside my need to understand how to do things perfectly before diving in and trying them.  This little paper mache project was the epitome of that. I was clueless.  You should have seen my excitement when we popped the balloons and they held together.  It was kind of ridiculous and I’m glad the kids didn’t have the camera.

 

We painted and created and laughed and, I think, we made a few memories.  While the masks were drying, they did a little of this. . .

and this. . .

Yes, my kids pretend to be animals every. single. day. . . Sounds, tricks, and eating and drinking out of bowls, are par for the course.  They can be entertained this way for an hour. . . no joke.  After a few hours and plenty of barking, running, playing. . . it was time. . .

See?  Don’t mess with us. . . Mad skills.

I even got into the fun. . . I love my husband so much I did a tribute to him in the form of a Chad mask.  I think it turned out quite nice. . .

Come on. . . I know you smiled. 

All right.  I just wrote an entire post about a silly paper mache project.  I’m shameless.  Really, though, the point I’m trying to make is that I am so pumped to be trying some new, very foreign, activities.  I used to be too afraid to try things if I wasn’t certain it would turn out right.  Motherhood is chilling me, a bit, though.  I know the masks aren’t anything fabulous.  They are quite awful, really.  But long after they are in the trashcan I will carry with me the excitement with which they were made and the invaluable lesson I learned. ..

It doesn’t have to be perfect, to be worth it.

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”
-Anna Quindlen