This was a tough thing for me because I have not an ounce of creativity in me. Because of this, however, I've always felt it very important to try and nurture the creative side in my kids. I was really wishing Lee were here for the project because he is extremely creative, and also has a lot of patience for helping the kids with things like this. But Lee wasn't here, so I was left to my own devices if I wanted Morgan to participate. We brainstormed ideas together, but then I had her do all the wrapping, cutting, taping, and pasting. The best part is that we did it all in just two hours -- only 30 minutes past bedtime -- Whew!
I feel a great deal of satisfaction at having been part of a creative endeavor. The thing I'm most excited about is that I got really brave and used my new printer/copier/scanner. I took a picture of Morgan reading (the big picture on top of the box) and then printed it. I also found three pictures from years passed (the other two pictures on top of the box and the one on the front side, which is the bottom of the picture below), and I scanned the pictures, then cropped them and resized them before printing them and having Morgan cut them. Some of you realize how big of an achievement this is for my non-computer age brain! (I noticed the hole we cut in the box looks lopsided in this picture, so I'd like to make sure you know it's a perfectly rectangular hole!) :)
My friend Denise just called and told me that her son's 1st grade class made Valentine bags as part of an art project at school. Now why didn't our school think of that? They must think that a child's education is supposed to extend to the parents (i.e. they like the parents to learn things too -- like how to be creative). I learned my lesson, so can I be done?!!!
(Written at 6:30 p.m. the day after making the Valentine's Day box): Brynne and I picked Morgan up from school today so we could look at the display of all the Valentine's boxes that were made. My initial reaction was that my confidence was shattered -- there were some really creative boxes! -- but then I decided to focus on the fact that probably only 1 out of every 15 or 20 students even did a box. That makes our box better than the 95% that didn't even do them! And most important, Morgan is still proud of her box. (And now I've got more ideas for next year -- bring it on!!!!)
7 comments:
looks awesome Hil! tell Morgan I am impressed with her skills.. See you guys soon!
I love reading also. So glad I don't have to make a box. I'll bet Morgan loved making it.
What a great box. I am glad you were able to find those pictures from years past. You never know what school project they will be needed for when you snap a picture at age 3!
It turned out beautifully! I understand about being creatively challenged. Way to meet the challenge head on. I think that you used great strategies to stimulate the artistic process. I think that sometimes art is more scientific than we think. I think a big part of art is seeing the beauty in what we create without it having to meat some preconceived notion of perfect or beautiful (this is particularly difficult for me). All in all good job mom!
I am so glad that I read this before Andrew had to make his Valentine's Day box to put the Valentine's in. You really helped me! I saw a lot of the kids boxes at the school today and was blown away by the "kids" creation (but really the parents!). I decided that I really didn't care what it looked like and let him do it all on his own. It didn't turn out neat and pretty like it would have been if I did it but he was really proud of his box, like Morgan was.
Happy Valentine's Day Hilary and beautiful girls!
I wonder what kind of parental psychology evaluations they do on those boxes and other "projects." I wouldn't be surprised it that was the point!
If you thought she was proud then, just wait until she gets home with it stuffed full of valentines!
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