• Home
  • About
  • Mom Musings
  • Everyday Lessons
  • Belly & Baby
  • Tips & Ideas

Using Our Words

Slice-of-life stories about parenthood

Coloring Outside the Lines

Coloring Outside the Lines

March 5, 2014 by Amy, Using Our Words 2 Comments

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

One of my favorite things about Little is that he’s so very different from me. I can’t get enough of listening to his thoughts and trying to figure out how that crazy cool brain of his works. The only thing that’s predictable about this kid is that he’s totally unpredictable. In a good way.

But recently, I’ve seen a change in him. It was right before Christmas, I think, when he fell back in love with art. As a toddler, he’d spent hours coloring — everything from paper to the walls to his body. He got such a reputation for his “creativity” that all of his 2-year-old birthday presents were (washable) art supplies. But then sports and superheros took over and the markers got pushed aside. Until one day, at school, he decided not only was he going to start coloring again, he was going to do it with gusto.

This time around though, his gusto wasn’t wild abandon. No, this time he was determined to stay inside the lines when it was a coloring sheet, and draw realistically when it was freehand. He started coming home from school each day with anywhere from three to six pages of coloring. Each one was more perfectly within the lines than the last. I loved seeing him reunited with his passion and — if you ask his totally biased mom — talent.

But part of me felt a loss. With the introduction of his predictably perfect sheets and PAC-12 football player drawings, I mourned the passing of purposeful scribble and his wonderfully passionate descriptions of what was so obviously on the page, from his point of view. Furious lions, Green Lantern saving a backhoe loader, witches flying through the jungle. They were just gone, it seemed.

Then the other day, when he’d had enough of football goals and college logos, Little asked me if he could paint. I’ll be honest, I huffed a bit. Because paint in our house is just so messy, and hardly seems worth the effort when the kids get bored after five minutes. But I said yes anyway.

Moments into his artistic process, I was so glad that I’d given in. Sure, there was the paint all over the table. And, in no time, the playroom carpet. But there was also a glimpse of my artist, formerly known as outrageous.

Me: Wow, Little, I can see you’re really enjoying that. What are you painting?

Him: It’s an ice-breathing dragon.

A few moments later…

Him: This is a submarine.

Me: I thought it was a dragon…

Him: It is. He has a submarine mustache.

Obviously.

Obviously his wild imagination is still tucked inside the head that now sports a tween-y hipster haircut and a big-kid face. Obviously he didn’t lose that fascinating part of himself simply because he discovered new skills. Obviously I just need to say ‘yes’ a bit more, and give him the space and tools he needs to find his next great idea. Because if there’s one thing I can predict about the future with this kid, it’s that it’s going to be colorful.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: featured, Mom Musings Tagged With: art, creativity, learning, motherhood, preschool

Subscribe

Never miss a post!

Subscribe and you can get my new posts delivered right in your inbox!

Comments

  1. Ginny@RandomActsofMomness.com says

    March 8, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    A submarine mustache! That is fabulous.

    I hear you about dying inside when the kids want to paint. So much mess! But it’s always worth it to see what they create.

    Reply
    • Amy, Using Our Words says

      March 10, 2014 at 3:39 pm

      So true, Ginny! Thanks.

      Reply

Use Your Words Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A Bit About Me

I’m Amy, the girl next door. I’m your average obsessive mom/ happy wife/ freelance copywriter/ slice-of-life blogger/ social media addict/ chocolate lovin’ wino. Read More…

Subscribe

Some Reader Favorites

If These Walls Could Talk

At the End of the Day

Copyright © 2023 · Amy Heinz | Using Our Words

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in