sparking creativity

I made a big mommy mistake. Several weeks ago, I signed up Elizabeth, my most creative and biggest art-lover of a child, for art classes at a local art school...without telling her. Before I get any further into this story, you should know that Elizabeth and I both have taken many art classes here before, although hers were mostly the 5-day summer camp variety, and we both love the teachers, atmosphere and creativity that abound there.

I thought I was doing a good thing. One of her best friends was also taking the class, and they were one person short of the enrollment they needed to continue the class. What's the big deal, right? Well, she was not happy with me when she found out. I thought after attending the class for a week or two she'd discover that she really loved it, and her irritation would be water under the bridge.

And that was mostly what happened. As she attended the last session, I asked her if she'd be interested in taking another class there soon. A resounding "no" fell from her lips. After several discussions over the next few days, I finally was able to draw from her the reason why she was so disinterested in taking art classes from our fabulous art school right now.

She said, "mom, I love art, and I like all the things I learn in my art class at school, but sometimes I don't want someone telling me what kind of art to do."

Between that and my realization that she really doesn't like having a structured activity after school, it makes sense to me now. She needs the opportunity in the evenings to be creative, in her own way, her own time, her own space.

These kids are always teaching me something. Sometimes all it takes is bringing home a wooden truck from a yard sale to occupy Finn's attention for 2-3 hours, once some watercolors are thrown into the mix. And sometimes I just need to let them figure out for themselves what to do with their free time.

Although I know they enjoy when I plan weekend art/cooking projects for them, and I don't know how we'd get through the summer without an art camp or two, all they really need are supplies, crayons, pencils, paints, wax, paper, cardboard, and various items gathered outdoors, to spark their creativity.