Art, Not Perfection

Art class as I see it.....

When the boys are in class and are given instructions on what to draw or paint I love to see what their interpretation of the instructions were.  In watching all of the children (and parents) in the class, I found it interesting that everyone wants to look at everyone else's work to see if their neighbor's art is better than theirs. 

I have a love/hate relationship with our art class.  Art class is test of my patience.  It's messy.  It's long.  It's interpretive.  I have boys.  Busy boys.  Imaginative boys.  (Did I already say busy???)  It takes every last drop of patience I have to take the boys to art.  We haven't ever missed a class, but, believe me - I've fantasized thought about it. 

You see, I'm a rule follower.  I'm a black/white kind of gal.  I've never been good at interpreting or creating art.  If there are assembly instructions, I can build it.  If there are numbers assigned to colors, I can paint-by-number.  If there's a pattern, I can sew it.  But to go all  willy-nilly with a paint brush....are you kidding me?  It's just not my thing.  I think people that can do that are awesome, but I have never developed that skill.

It's hard for me sometimes to watch the boys paint their assignments in art.  Their paper gets goopy with too much paint, not enough water.  Their are drips.  Globs.  Smears.  And, at times they don't follow the instructions at all.  But, I really want them to have this experience.  I want them to be able to develop this if it interests them.  I want them to have the opportunity.  I have to admit, I am sometimes tempted in class to pick up a paintbrush and swirl some paint around (but before I get too excited about it, one of the boys has a glob emergency). 

I love that they are creating, whether it follows instructions or not.  Whether the paint is mixed to the right hue or not.  Whether their tree looks like a tree or not.  The thing is, it's their art.  It's personal.  Their faces while creating it make our art trip worth while.  Their drawings or paintings don't have to be my definition of perfect - it's art. 

You'd be surprised at the kids & parents who walk out of the class either in tears or very angry.  I think the whole point of art is that it is interpretive.  I understand following directions to a point in art, but in the end one person's art vision is not the next person's vision.  That's the beauty of it, isn't it?  I'm pretty sure that frustration, anger and tears shouldn't be a big part of art class.  That's just my interpretation...

 

More Kid-isms

Last night when cleaning up, I came across a gross, squishy Lego head.  I asked if we really needed this creepy head or if I could throw it away.  Harrison replies, "Mom, you need to be way more Star Wars-y and way less ballet-y."  Hamilton chimes in, "Yeah, mom!  Watch the movies!  If you did, you'd know that was Kit-Fisto (sp?)".  For the record - I don't, nor have I ever ballet danced. 

I wrote on our family calendar for this Saturday "Women's Retreat".  I explained that it was a retreat for women only.  Hamilton asked how many days away it was.  When we counted the days and discussed it was this weekend, Harrison started to cry.  He said, "Mom, you are so mean!  Why would you go trick-or-treating with out us?  It's not fair that only women get to do that!"   I explained that it wasn't  trick-or-treating, that it was a time where women met to talk.  He was releived I wasn't going to "re-treat" his candy from Halloween.

Some things they say are so cute, and I know I should probably correct them, but I just can't.  Like

• Hamilton says "esipode" for episode.  It's too darn cute!
• Harrison says "Plessaleenech" for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The other night Henderson had a splinter in his heel.  While we were pulling it out, Henderson was going CRAZY crying and screaming.  The older two were hysterical, too.  At one point, Hamilton cries out, "Is he gonna lose a foot?"  Then Henderson really freaked.  Thanks, Red!

My little Henderson - I love him so much.  I love the age of 3.  He sits on the bathroom counter while I put on my makeup and asks me what each thing is for.  I'll tell him, "This is mascara, it's for my eyelashes."  He'll repeat it.  It's quite a lot of conversation during the whole process.  Today he told me, "Mom!  You are finally beautiful!" 

I love these little guys.  This is them, and our trunk this Halloween. 

God has blessed me incredibly.  I love all the laughing that goes on here!

Visiting With a Parent That Has a Sick Kid????

In talking to a few well-meaning folks I've learned a few things that parents of chronically sick kids or handicapped kids DON'T want to hear.

1.  We'd actually rather you not ask.  Just don't.  If we want you to know, we'll tell you.  If we've invited the conversation, or started it, that's fine, but please don't look at a child and say, "What happened?" or, "Whats wrong with him?"  Have some sensitivity.  You'd actually be surprised how often people feel entitled to ask these questions.

2.  Yes, we generally know things could be worse.  Our kids could have a worse affliction or be dead.  We know that.  We don't need to hear that.  We love our kids enormously, and are thankful to have them in our lives.  We thank God for them daily, in the same ways you thank God for your children. 

3. If we are having a bad day, a good way to help is to listen.  Let us cry.  We are not having a bad day because we are ungrateful, we are probably having a bad day because our child has received yet another diagnosis, our child has visited the lab yet again or we have been on the phone with the insurance company.  Again. (I speak for myself here, but I am generally too busy to wallow in self-pity.  When I have a bad day, it is uaually when my child has been poked and prodded.  Again.)  We just want to be heard, sympathized with and maybe understood.  

4.  Don't try to pin an illness/handicap on the parent.  We do that enough.  I guarantee that.  It's pointless.  Was it the medication we took while we were pregnant?  Was it a premature birth?  Could we/should we have insisted on different care for them as an infant?  We've already asked those questions.  We are plagued with them.  They are all pointless.

As with everything else in life, you don't know unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.  Don't judge.  Please.  Pray for us. Pray that we'll have the strength to see our child through this illness/handicap.  Pray for our child.  Pray that God will be glorified through this illness/handicap.  Pray for healing.  Pray.  Don't judge.

I have a child with a serious chronic illness that is generally internal, but his immune system is attacking his skin now and he has outward signs of being ill.  I have friends with handicapped children.  Beautiful, wonderful children.  Some with autism, one that had a stroke in-utero, others with significant disabilities.  And, all of these parents are amazing!  Several of us have had encounters this week with people doing one of the above.  It makes dealing with our children's handicap/illness that much harder.  

Bible Study Recommendation

If you are looking for a bible study that will change your life, I have one I'd like to recommend.  It's a Beth Moore study called Daniel.  If you have a chance to participate in this study - I highly recommend it.  You will get BIG benefits from this one.  The study is kind of intense, but there are some revelations that WILL change you.

Our Wednesday morning study group has done a Phillip Yancy study and a few Max Lucado studies, but we usually pick some lower-key study.  Something that doesnt require too much homework.  While I love the fellowship of our diverse group, I felt that we were really missing the boat on learning and growing through our study of the bible together. 

I'm so glad that we were led to do this study together.  Even the women that balked at the amount of work and time it would take to do the study (24 weeks since we have to split up the 12 week sessions......we are REALLY chatty), love this study. 

I hope you get a chance to do this one!  It's well worth the time! 

My boys and Ramsey (a Scout and homeschool friend) at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.  This was one of many field trips we'll be taking this year with our co-op.  The boys loved the trip and enjoyed knowing that we were counting the day as "school".  Hamilton says things like "I couldn't do this if I was in public school."  I love that.

We watched a movie in the planetarium, and the kids learned a lot about our solar system.  I, myself, got REALLY motion sick, and remained sick the remainder of the day.

I love this way of learning - and I feel so fortunate to be able to do this!

A Third Grader?????

Sunday was the day all of the third graders got their bibles in church.  I loved watching him receive his bible, but was in disbelief that he is old enough to have one!  I used to look at the third graders and say to myself, "Those are the BIG kids - half grown." 

Well, I was mistaken.  They are babies.  Not anywhere near half grown.  Babies.  I still smell his head before bed every night for goodness sake.  I have to go find him now so I can pinch those wittle cheeks!  



Back in the Saddle, Again!

We are back in the saddle again!  We started schooling last week.  These were pictures of our first day of school.  I took probably 30 pictures - and these are the best ones, if you can believe that.  I used my little Kodak and the pre-flash timing makes my kids eyes close by the time the image is captured.  Oh well.

At least during this 110-115 degree heat, the kiddos have something to do inside.  We'll take a nice, long fall break in October!