Today, as I strolled to my 3-year-old’s preschool, I was warmly greeted by a cubby overflowing with my child’s artistic creations. I struggled to suppress an eye roll as the teacher beamed with pride over the collection of paint-splattered scribbles. With a forced smile that concealed my true feelings, I gathered the papers, placed them in my car, and later disposed of the entire pile in the trash.
Am I a terrible mother? Not at all—just a practical one. These educators send home every single scrap of paper that my child touches with a crayon, highlighting the time spent on creative endeavors. I want to tell them, “Please, save your effort. I send my child there for a few peaceful hours to myself.” As long as they’re not causing chaos on the playground, I’m content. And let’s be honest—very little of what I see appears to be true artistry. What even is this piece?
Questionable Creations
Take, for example, a creation titled “Patrick’s Egg Painting.” Is it meant to represent an egg? Was it created using an egg? Is there any connection to an egg at all? Then there are the projects where teachers lend a hand. Look at this absurdity, where my 3-year-old, who can barely hold scissors, has “perfectly” cut out stars and attached them with tape. The last time he got into tape, it took me 20 minutes to unravel it from his hair!
I’m no stickler for decorum, but do we really need a rocket ship that resembles inappropriate shapes displayed on our fridge? While I have kept a small box of selected pieces for each child—just enough to appear as the supportive mother when A&E comes looking for background shots for a biopic—I admit that most of the random creations go straight to the garbage. My son, Patrick, couldn’t care less. I recently held up one of his colorful smudges and asked, “What is this art you made for Mommy?” He stared blankly, shrugged, and returned to his monster truck crash fest. Clearly, it’s not worth preserving.
A Tactful Approach
Now that my daughter, Grace, is older, I’ve learned to be a bit more tactful. Her artwork is more recognizable, so I offer genuine praise before stashing it away in a cabinet, eventually leading to a hoarding-like situation. When she occasionally discovers her art in the trash, I gently explain, “Sweetheart, you are a talented artist, but I can’t save everything. Let’s find your best work to display instead of holding onto everything.” After some contemplation, she usually agrees and lets it go. (Point for Mom).
To demonstrate my commitment, I’ve set up a dedicated wall for showcasing their finest creations. We’re currently using the term “finest” loosely for Patrick, just to keep his future therapist’s workload manageable.
Looking Ahead
Remember, as gifted as your little Picassos may seem today, in 15 years, you might wonder what in the world that piece was and why it’s still cluttering your home! If you’re interested in exploring other topics related to family planning and fertility, check out our post on fertility boosters for men, which can be an engaging read.
In summary, while we cherish the creativity of our children, managing the endless influx of artwork can be a challenge. By selectively saving only the best pieces, we can celebrate their artistic journey without being overwhelmed by clutter.
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