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by Sophia Reynolds
Updated: Jan. 31, 2017
Originally Published: March 25, 2011
As a parent, I often find myself grappling with the mixed emotions that arise when my children are struck with bursts of creativity. The moment I see the spark of inspiration flicker in their eyes, and one of them exclaims, “Oh! I have an AMAZING idea!” – I can’t help but feel a pang of frustration.
In theory, their imaginative bursts are delightful. However, the reality is that it demands an astonishing amount of effort on my part, a lesson I’ve learned through experience.
Whenever my seven-year-old, Leo, gets a grand idea, it signals an immediate need for my involvement. His enthusiasm is so all-consuming that it wipes away any shred of patience or rationality he might possess. He concocts the most outlandish dreams. And guess who is ultimately responsible for bringing those dreams to fruition? You guessed it—me.
I thought it would be a good idea to enroll the kids in a week-long film-making camp. Big mistake. This camp has ignited their imaginations, which I typically prefer to keep at a gentle simmer. When I picked them up yesterday, Leo was quick to share that he felt “inspired” to create a stop-motion animation.
These movie-making ideas are the ones I dread most because they are incredibly time-consuming and require technology I’m not entirely comfortable with. I would gladly help him build a Lego Eiffel Tower or write a mash-up of Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon. Just nothing that involves editing software, please.
So, at 6 PM, Leo declares he wants to make a movie. There’s dinner to prepare, baths to be taken, and bedtime routines to follow. From past experience, I know that making a movie can easily consume an entire afternoon—two to four hours, easily—not something to tackle right before bed.
These are the spur-of-the-moment inspirations that I dread. Because when I gently inform Leo, “Well, sweetie, there’s really not enough time to create a movie before bedtime,” he erupts. Doesn’t he realize he’s caught in a cosmic wave of creativity that cannot be delayed or abbreviated? His burning desire to CREATE is aflame, and he is indifferent to bedtime or even brushing his teeth. He has a masterpiece in mind, and he believes if he doesn’t act soon, it will vanish forever. Do I want this BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE to fade into oblivion without even being created?
Plus, he insists it will only take five minutes.
And I fall for it. Because I’m a soft-hearted parent, and, regrettably, I cherish his grand dreams, perhaps even more than he does. I’ve kept approximately four million doodles of his favorite video game characters, after all. Of course, I will help him realize his ambitious vision.
Thus, I find myself past bedtime, frantically interviewing a mini figurine, while my four-year-old daughter, Mia, cries for help with her own project in the bathroom.
“MOMMY, I NEED HELP!”
“MOMMY, WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME?”
“MOOOOOOOMMMY!”
Finally, I respond, “We’re FILMING in here, honey! Leo, just cut! We’ll have to redo that scene after I help your sister.”
This is the path that inspiration leads you down. This is why I try to avoid igniting my children’s creativity unless it involves something like taking a much-needed nap. A stroke of genius my kids seem to lack.
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Summary:
Navigating the challenges of parenting can be overwhelming, especially when faced with children’s bursts of creativity that require significant parental involvement. This article highlights the delicate balance between encouraging imagination and managing practical daily responsibilities.