In the previous post, we talked about the first 3 out of the 5 ways to embrace your inner artist. Today, we will explore the rest.

 

4) A Pristine, Clean Home Isn’t The Goal

There is a time and place to teach your kids to take care of themselves. But unless paint, glitter, glue or something super hard to clean is being thrown all around, don’t worry too much about the mess that your kid can be making while making art.

 

Two posts ago, I shared that deciding where to make art was important. I also recommended using an art mat to protect your table.

 

But overall, know that you will see glue sticks out, crayons out, artwork on your home surfaces, paint projects drying. It’s normal.

 

It’s common to see this kind of stuff in homes where kids are just being kids, but if you’re homeschooling your kids with the Mother Goose Time Curriculum, expect to see these artistic products and finished projects even more.

 

“The art supplies, art projects and kid messes you feel overwhelmed by today, will probably be the things you miss most when your kids leave the nest.” – Haydee Montemayor

Of course, you want to encourage cleanliness in your child, but, realize that art is serving a greater purpose than you know.

 

 

5) Leave The Tools Out

Now that we’ve established that having art supplies out isn’t the end of the world, be okay with leaving the most commonly used art supplies out.

 

Make it easy for yourself and your child to make art. Why? Because as you and I know, often the first step is the hardest step. So if you want to create art but need to get this, that and the other out, then the likelihood of you finding something else to do increases.

 

Therefore, use easily-accessible bins to corral Mother Goose Curriculum content.

Use storage containers to house art supplies that you don’t use as much. But leave other storage containers with art supplies that you use more office easily accessible.

 

But overall, have an area in your home where you and your child can feel inspired to pick up an art supply or two and just color, write and create.

 

 

If you’re having a hard time being open to the idea of having art supplies out, let me ask you something:

• Did you have a place like that while growing up? A place where you could start creating art within seconds when the inspiration struck?
• Most likely you didn’t. But it would have been nice, wouldn’t it have?

 

Think back on your own childhood, even more:

• Where did you store your art supplies?
• How much space in your room did they occupy?
• Were you allowed to leave your art supplies out anywhere else?
• How do you think that this has influenced your confidence in creating art?
• When have you had the most art supplies? When you had to depend on your parents to buy them for you? Or when you could purchase them for yourself?

 

Personally, one of the activities that I wanted to do when I was growing up, was finger paint. I tried it once in school and loved it soooo much that I asked my mom to buy me finger paints. She didn’t see the value in my request. And she didn’t buy them for me because she said that the were really messy. And throughout many years, my hands literally yearned to stick my hands in finger paint. And I didn’t for many years, but when I got a job, I bought myself some.

 

Ironically, even now as a mom, the art pieces that I’m most drawn to from my firstborn, are those that he did with fingerpaints. Freestyle. To me, they seem to be the most artistic.

 

And do I jump in and get my hands “dirty” once in a while? You betcha! 🙂

 

 

6) There’s Beauty In The Mess.

I have been thinking about art like three times a day lately.

 

Why?

Because we eat 3 times a day.

 

And I’ve reached a conclusion.

 

“A baby who is given the opportunity to be messy with their food is bound to like a greater variety of food and have a better relationship with food than babies who are spoon-fed all the time.” – Haydee Montemayor

 

I know it sounds a little harsh. Especially if you’re finicky about messiness. I was like that for a while. But, truly stop and think about it.

 

Think about the kids in your life who eat everything. Did their parents allow them to explore different foods early on? Probably.

 

Now think about the kids in your life who often don’t eat or just like one thing and want to eat that thing all the time? Did their parents expose them to a lot of different food early? Probably not.

 

These may just be coincidences, of course, but… the point is…  little kids are natural explorers.

 

And exploring sometimes requires mess.

 

And even in the mess, there’s beauty.

 

Literally, there’s beauty in the mess… because would you agree that some of your kid’s BEST and cutest baby photos are those in which they have spaghetti all over their face or hair. These are the photos that you probably are THE most excited to share with them when they grow up (including your future daughters and sons-in-law).

 

Deep down, I believe you love these photos because you KNOW that these moments are just snapshots of a stage in their life. That this is a phase. That this time will pass. And you can see the beauty in this. There’s innocence. There’s youth. There’s a deep abandon in being in the moment.

 

And that is SUPER beautiful.

 

Remember, that your focus right now with your kids is being present with them, accompanying them on their learning journey and making experiences together.

 

Hug your children more than you hug the washcloth and the broom.

 

Got it? Good. 🙂

 

To Wrap Up

Art is like playing. And as much as we want to make ourselves believe that we don’t need to play. The fact is, we do.

And we should.

Our aim isn’t a pristine life. It’s an engaged life.

 

Now It’s Your Turn

• Which of these points about the ways to embrace your inner artist resonated with you the most?

 

• Why do you think that is?

 

I received the Mother Goose TIME curriculum for free in exchange for my honest opinion about my experience with it. And as you can tell, I really enjoy it. 🙂