Karen, a single never-married thirty-year old attorney has a four-year old daughter, whom she just picked up from her parents' home after another all-day affair in court.
Like every Thursday, Karen took her daughter, Anna, to McDonald's for dinner, which was a very special mother-daughter bonding time. Karen ordered a salad for her and a kid's meal for Anna. To Anna's delight, the kid's meal came with some crayons. While they were eating, Anna turned over the paper trayliner and began to draw a circle with some numbers just inside the perimeter of the circle. Instead of staring out the window like she usually did, Karen looked at what Anna was drawing.
"Whatcha drawin' sweetie?" Karen asked. "A clock," Anna said. "Are you sure it's a clock? It's got more than twelve numbers in the circle." "I know, Mommy. It's a clock for you. You said there's not enough time in the day."
Tears formed in Karen's eyes.
"Why are you crying, Mommy?" asked Anna. "There isn't enough time in the day, sweetheart. You and I have to make some more time ? time for each other," said Karen. "I didn't know that you liked to draw so much." "Oh I do, Mommy. Gramma lets me draw anytime I want to," said Anna. "She does?" "Yep. We went to the bookstore today and she bought me a coloring book." "So that's what was in that bag. You've got a good grandma, honey." "I know. She told me that YOU used to like to draw, too. When you were a little girl." "That's right," Karen said softly and was not sure if Anna heard her. "I DID used to draw a lot and do a lot of sketches," she spoke in normal tone. "Sketches?" asked Anna "Oh, sketches. Sketches are drawings with pencils." "Can we do some sketches at home?" "Why of course. Tell you what. When we get home, I'm gonna look for some sketches that I used to do and show you." "Okay," said Anna excitedly.
When they finished dinner and got home, Anna showed her mother the coloring book that her grandmother had bought her. While Karen was looking for her sketches, Anna showed came to Karen's room every time she finished with coloring a page. Karen gave her daughter kisses, praise and encouragement every time Anna showed her another page of her work.
Karen finally found her old sketches and went into the kitchen where Anna was drawing. To Karen's surprise, there were drawings on the doors of the white cabinets. Anna had drawn on two kitchen cabinet doors.
"Isn't it pretty, Mommy?" asked Anna. Karen's jaw dropped. She was stunned and could not move for several seconds.
Anna finally broke the silence, "Gramma's kitchen is colorful. I want our kitchen to be colorful. Do you like it, Mommy?"
Karen backed into one of the kitchen walls and lowered her body to the ground until she was sitting on the floor. She cried profusely. Anna was confused why her mother was crying. When she showed her mother some of her work in her coloring book, her mother was happy and excited. Now, her mother is crying.
"You don't like it, Mommy?" Anna finally asked. Karen was finally able to talk, "No, sweetheart. I like your drawings. It's just that when I was a little girl, I did the same thing on gramma's walls." "Did she like it?" asked Anna. Karen was breathing deeply, almost hyper-ventilating and said, "She screamed at me." Karen was now breathing more normal. "She screamed at me," she said softly. "Why?" asked Anna. "Because I was supposed to color on the paper. I was supposed to follow the rules. I had messed up gramma's cabinets." "Did I mess up your cabinets?" "No, sweetheart," Karen said quickly. "Those cabinets needed some color. I want you to keep on drawing, okay? But I will get you some bigger drawing paper for you so you can make me some bigger pictures." "Wow! I will make the bigger pictures even prettier!" Anna said with anticipation. "How come you stopped drawing, Mommy?" Anna asked her Karen innocently. Karen took a deep breath and said. "Because I got shut down by what happened to me when I was about your age?" "Huh?" Anna asked confusingly. "I will explain it to you when you are older, sweetheart. Keep on drawing in the meantime."
North Notes is a writing and researching company, which primarily helps writers gain focus, motivation, remove mental blocks that help to unblock the writing process. EVERYONE who writes has been stuck at some point in his or her career. You do not have to accept these mind-boggling roadblocks!
(586) 216-7516
Culver prom limo ..There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
Hope, excitement and anxiety all wrapped up in fresh haircuts... Read More
Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
Just the other day, I was talking to some other... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More
I was reading "A Modern Infant Armada", a humor column... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
There's a new trend for party entertainment. It seems as... Read More
You have a chore to do around the house, and... Read More
One of parents' most important duties is to protect their... Read More
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one... Read More
All children will likely have many different health problems during... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
Isn't the technology of today is amazing?! Between the speed... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is... Read More
Q. How do I overcome the 16-year-old who does things... Read More
Most teens go into the work world ill-prepared to manage... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
As thinking, acting human beings we have the ability to... Read More
If you visit search engines you can find several resources... Read More
'How can I start getting my children to help out... Read More
College is one of the largest expenses through the course... Read More
There isn't a school day that goes by that I... Read More
If you're looking for toys that are both fun to... Read More
Teens don't learn responsibility overnight. If you haven't been working... Read More
Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More
What parent hasn't gone into a son's or daughter's room... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
Memorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
Now is an excellent time to have your child's vision... Read More
Home-schooling provides children with a superior education. Parents can quickly... Read More
A strange thing happened to me today. Or more precisely,... Read More
Diapers..Changing a dirty diaper is not the best part of... Read More
For many adults, reading a book or newspaper seems effortless.... Read More
There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
"Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
Parenting |