It’s 7.55, I’m getting ready to leave for school and I call my son to come and put on his shoes. “But I’m busy, mum!” he says. I go into the kitchen, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. In the ten minutes I was upstairs getting ready, he’s created a 3ft square masterpiece from tissue paper and feathers, right there on the kitchen table.
He was supposed to be taking a few boxes into school to show how they had Braille on them. But rather than just take them into school, he’s decided it’s much better to weave them into an ‘autumn display’ for the teacher. A display made from eight pieces of A4, sellotaped together and embellished with foam shapes, sequins and leaves. You’ve got to admire his vision. I would have taken a photograph, if I wasn’t in such a rush to get us all out the door.
The thing is, my five-year-old has a great talent for making things and I do my best to encourage him in something he loves and is good at. He knows he’s good at it, as I even saw in his school book at parents’ evening a chart where he’d detailed his talent for making along with (no sniggering at the back) playing, loving and the best yet, eating.
My mum once suggested as long as I keep him in a steady supply of paper, pritt stick and glitter he’ll manage to stay out of trouble. I also try and remind myself a little piece of parenting advice that’s always stuck with me, and that’s to try and say yes to things more often. So when my son announces he wants to start painting at 4.30pm on a Wednesday, I try to hide the fact that I need the table laying for dinner in an hour, and just think “why not?” This advice obviously only goes on a day when I’m feeling cool, calm and collected mind you.
With all this making, though, comes a floor covered in a million hazards for his one-year-old sister. I’m forever scouting the floorboards for danger in case she is about to sever a finger or swallow a sequin.
All things considered, it seems having a sometimes stressy mother hasn’t stopped him coming up with new projects. If only he could limit them to convenient times of day…
21 Comments
hannah
October 24, 2014 at 11:19 amSuch a lovely post. Creativity inspires the heart I have always lived by this. Ps. how fab is the rocket fire, well done little man x
Rainbeaubelle
October 24, 2014 at 1:14 pmThank you! X
Lisa
October 24, 2014 at 11:33 amI was like this as a child, if we didn’t have paper and glue we were in trouble!
Such a creative boy you have, I’m loving the jet-pack.
Have tried making fimo or hamma beads? Lots of fun.
Rainbeaubelle
October 24, 2014 at 1:15 pmThanks, I haven’t tried either but thanks for the suggestion. I loved fimo when I was little, I didn’t know you could still buy it! Will have a look for it definitely. X
Granny
October 24, 2014 at 4:16 pmLove Sams latest creation! Have just carefully packed away the model theatre & props he made for the puppet show he delighted us all with last weekend, ready for subsequent shows! They still sell Fimo at the art shop where we used to buy it years ago so will get a few colours to try! Xx
Rainbeaubelle
October 24, 2014 at 5:33 pmThanks! He’ll love the fimo! Xx
Emma Lander
October 24, 2014 at 6:51 pmOh wow. so great that he loves to craft and oh my, the rocket back pack is AMAZING. Great post. I am too scared of the mess-how mean is that?!
I promise I will let her in half term x
Rainbeaubelle
October 24, 2014 at 7:50 pmThank you! Rocket back pack…. Found on pinterest of course, but really simple to make. Go for it! X
Katrina @ Beau Twins
October 25, 2014 at 1:07 pmYour son is a craft genius!! I ADORE this post. I also love the parenting advice of say yes more! I am a nightmare for it! Let them make mess and do what the please. But I know it’ll wear one day but hopefully i’ll be as enthusiastic about glitter and glue on the floor! xxx
Rainbeaubelle
October 25, 2014 at 6:17 pmAh thanks Kat! Yes it’s one to remember, tho not always an easy one! He’s getting better at tidying up after himself but it’s still a mess most of the time! I try and give him free reign in one corner of the kitchen xx
Seychellesmama
October 26, 2014 at 7:30 amThis is so lovely! It’s so great how much you are encouraging his creativity, that’s such a wonderful thing!! X
Sarah christie
October 26, 2014 at 9:47 amI love the rocket backpack how clever x
Little Treasures
October 26, 2014 at 9:49 amLove this! What a creative boy! I love doing arts and crafts with my little one and am constantly hunting out new things we can use. I braved glitter this week and she LOVED it! Still finding it all over the flat but it was worth it! x
Rainbeaubelle
October 26, 2014 at 10:41 amOh yeah, glitter!! The messiest thing about Christmas haha!! My son is five so getting better with it but my little girl is one so I have the whole glitter everywhere phase coming up all over again! Hee hee x
mummyofboygirltwins
October 26, 2014 at 10:37 amErmmmm can he come and live with me and make things for the twins all day?! Genius! I think he’s going to be very creative growing up. Gorgeous post. Thanks for linking up this week with #SundayStars – Jess xxxx
Alex
October 26, 2014 at 4:40 pmI love this! Not even 8am and he has created a masterpiece! I’ll look out for him next time I visit the Tate Modern! Alex x
Mini Travellers
October 26, 2014 at 7:43 pmYou are very good, I say no far far too much. I am not crafty at all! Thanks for linking up with #sundaystars come and join us again next week.
Karen
October 26, 2014 at 9:33 pmI love the rocket pack so much!
Love this post – so inspiring 🙂
#SundayStars
Everything Mummy
October 27, 2014 at 7:29 amthats lovely he’s so creative love the rocket back pack amazing!
Rainbeaubelle
October 27, 2014 at 10:41 amThank you! The rocket was from pinterest, so easy and fun to do x
Sarah @ let them be small
October 27, 2014 at 7:47 pmlove that rocket. I always think creativity is a wonderful thing to encourage…. even if it is at the wrong time of the day!
#sundaystars x