The artist!

As parents we all encourage our kids to try new things. We cheer on their interests and we openly support their interested, whether they are the best at it or not. For parents when we try to encourage our kids and get them to take risks we are all secretly praying they will get the reward they are looking for. The payoff for practice, or hard work, or persistence.

Lauren loves art. She absolutely loves anything crafty, messy, gluey, painty, ribbony, glittery. You get the point. Anyway, that is not something I can say I share a love for. Those things send me into a panic, and when someone puts a paintbrush or glitter in front of me and says “create” I have heart palpitations. NOT my THING.

However I encourage her with all my being to keep going. She has had several paintings in the art show, and every time she gets something in I drag everyone to come see her masterpieces. I put her projects on the fridge, and allow her door to be filled with whatever crafts she has made.

Why do I share this you ask? Well for 2 years now Lauren has taken days to create drafts and then carefully design her final submission for the cover of the class book. Her school has each class create a book of writings that the students can buy to keep as a memento. I am aware this is another way to extract money from us parents, but Lauren loves this book. Her writings are “published” for all to see. She also loves to write. However each year Lauren desperately tries to design the best cover. The cover submissions are presented to the teacher and the teacher numbers them and it is a blind vote. That way it is fair. Last year Lauren spent a whole week and came in second. She was very upset, but she hid it. Her friend made the cover and she was very gracious and said she did like her cover. But I knew deep down she was very disappointed she would not be featured.

I almost couldn’t bear to find out about the results this time. I was glad she had a party to go to tonight to distract her from it. She got off the bus and ran to the car, folder in hand. She did it! Her picture was picked. I have never seen her so excited. She had the packet, she has to use the provided paper to recreate her design and return it to be submitted as the cover! I love it when that happens. I almost cried I was so happy for her. I hope every child, and parent alike can get a day like today!