July 2010 drawing
You know you’re a mom… when you get excited about a drawing from your children that nobody else would take a second look at! Yes, IAM, I’m A Mom, and I’m very proud of my almost four-year-old son. Why, you ask? Because the picture on the right is what my son drew last week, out of the blue. The young artist described the scene taking place by the pool – the large circle on the right- with a child standing in front of it, and a diver below him. Yes, my son aspires to become the next Jacques Cousteau! Somehow they’re sharing the scene with the Martian on the left who captured an ostrich in a cage. Holy cow, it really looks like an ostrich!
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Cool beans, but that’s no masterpiece for a child his age. You’re right, I’ve seen other drawings from his preschool classmates and I can often figure out what they drew. But for my son, this drawing is a major accomplishment because it marks his light speed exit out of Scribbletown! You see, until he drew this “earth, water and space” theme, he only scribbled. Pretty, colorful scribbles, but unrecognizable shapes nonetheless.
June 2010 drawing
How bad could it be? Look at the picture on the left and it’s hard to believe the same kid drew those two pictures only a couple of weeks apart, with no sign of transition. Somehow a lightbulb went on in his head as he realized he could use crayons to draw something different than never-ending spirals.
“Society so quickly wants to squeeze all of our children into the same pre-configured box that I believe our duty as parents is to give them plenty of breathing space at home to explore their own talents.”
Beautifully written and totally agree!
Thanks! I once read a book on child development where the author said something like this: “Too often we request our children to color within the lines. Artists don’t, and neither should children.” That statement really struck me and I want to use it as a guide with my own children to allow them to search for their inner talents.
Just wait until you’re a grandmother.
I frame many of my grandchildren’s “works of art” and then the new ones are placed over the older ones. Someday I’ll give them these thick frames with glass fronts and a stick’m note saying to take off the back. They’ll have 20 or more layers of art.
Yep, grandmothers (or Mor Mor, as I’m called) are suckers for budding artists!
I tape some of their art on the wall but I also have frames like you, one for each kid and I do update the art inside on a regular basis. You’re a good grandmother!