If I had to pick the biggest challenge to having a large family, I would definitely say it’s finding individual time with each child. Did I give each child what they needed from me today? This is a big one for me. I never go to bed worrying if the house was clean enough, but I do go to bed worrying if each child is getting enough of my attention. There are nine of them, and each is very important, very special, very deserving of my time. So how does a busy mother like me find the time to focus on just one child?
I have found that the only way to accomplish this is to have scheduled dates with each child. Around here the kids have dubbed this time with me “Special Time”. They all crave it. They ask for it often. And sometimes it can be as simple as reading a book with a child, or making Jello together, just the two of us. But other times it requires more planning.
The past few days 5-year-old Andrew has been sweetly whispering in my ear, “Mommy, when are we going to have Special Time?” I suggested some time on the couch with a few books. He shook his head “no” to that. Next I suggested we color together in his favorite coloring book. He frowned and said, “That not ‘pecial time!” It was then that I realized this little guy needed to get OUT of the house with me, away from all the siblings, so that he would have my undivided attention.
So I made the necessary arrangements for child care (daddy was home! yay!) and Andrew and I headed out to the mall and visited one of my favorite places: Color Me Mine. Have you ever been there? If there is one near you and you need an idea for some one-on-one time with your kids, I highly suggest this place.
As soon as we got there, Andrew and I each picked out the pottery item we wanted to paint.Andrew chose a soccer ball bank.
And I chose a Jack ‘O Lantern night light.
And then we got busy!
Art has always been a hobby of mine, so this kind of project is something that I can really get into. And I know that Andrew enjoys painting (he is always doing water colors at the kitchen table) so I thought this would be a perfect place to have our Special Time.
I was right. He loved it! He got right into his “work” and took it very seriously.
Being the perfectionist that I am, I resisted every urge to “help him” with his project. Even though his going out of the lines, mixing the colors, and leaving white parts unpainted just about drove me nuts. But the only comments I gave were “Oh wow! You are doing such a great job!” and “I love how you overlapped the colors like that! Very creative!” Nothing but encouragement, of course.
And here are the finished products!
We weren’t able to take them home that day but had to leave them there so that they can be fired in the kiln, which will make them nice and shiny! We pick them up next week. I won’t have my Jack ‘O Lantern for this year’s Halloween decorations, but next year and the years that follow it will be displayed in our family room during this season. And of course it will always remind me of Andrew and our “Special Time” that we shared on this day.
I think he painted inside the lines just fine.
Good job mom!
Cranky