February 12, 2023
This week, my 5-year-old son, Max, and I decided to engage in some arts and crafts, an endeavor he amusingly refers to as “arts and craps,” and I have no intention of correcting him since it captures my sentiments perfectly. He expressed a desire to create a snowman, but after countless iterations this season, I proposed a Valentine’s-themed project.
“How about we draw and cut out a large heart?” I suggested. “Then we can decorate it.” While this idea may not win any awards, Max is still quite young.
“Okay,” he replied slowly, reaching for the marker I handed him.
“Just try to make the heart large enough for us to cut out and have space to decorate,” I encouraged.
He nodded, his tongue peeking out as he focused intently on his task. However, what appeared on the construction paper resembled anything but a heart—more akin to a droopy shape than the intended symbol of love.
“Oh dear, do you need help with drawing a heart? Let me show you,” I offered, naively thinking I could assist him. I attempted to draw dashed lines for him to connect, guided his hand repeatedly, and even drew a heart for him to trace. After twenty minutes, numerous failed attempts, and a pile of discarded paper, I started hearing the different internal voices of motherhood that emerge during such frustrating moments.
The Critical Mom voice chimed in, exclaiming, “Why can’t he grasp this? He’s failing at arts and crafts!” Meanwhile, the Guilty Mom voice lamented, “This is my fault. I should be more engaged and supportive.” The Exhausted Mom could hardly manage a whisper, wishing for a break to watch TV instead.
Then there was the Cheerleader Mom, cheering him on with a loud, “If you can’t do it, who can?” The Sipping Mom, also known as Chardonnay-nay, glanced at the clock, contemplating if it was too early for a glass of wine. The Overdramatic Mom was in tears, feeling overwhelmed and declaring, “I can’t even teach my child to draw a heart!” The Blaming Mom voiced her frustrations, asking, “What do kindergarten teachers even do?”
Finally, the Creative Mom emerged, suggesting to Max, “How about you try making an uppercase ‘V’? Great job! Now, create two peaks at the top of the ‘V.’ Yes! You did it! You drew a heart!”
And he did! Max successfully crafted a heart. However, he was too spent from the effort to continue with the rest of the project, and honestly, I felt a sense of relief as I was already running late for my date with Chardonnay-nay.
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Summary:
In this humorous recounting of a crafting session with her son, Taylor Morgan highlights the chaotic yet relatable experience of parenthood. The internal dialogue that accompanies the challenges of teaching young children provides insight into the pressures and joys of motherhood. Through creative problem-solving, Taylor finds a way to connect with her son while navigating the ups and downs of parenting.