Like Father, Like Daughter
Dear Alexis,
Oh, Short Stuff. I know I already wrote you a little letter this week, but I caught you doing something that simply must be addressed. Here, look:
Now Alexis, that is some seriously impressive coloring. You picked the right colors, you kept things neat, you even stayed in the lines. Ariel has the just right bright red hair, her lips are a pretty pink, her eyes are a familiar blue. Every detail has been considered, right down to her earrings matching her dress. It's all so very . . . perfect.
You're three.
You stayed in the lines.
In fact, for a few months now, you've been consistently coloring inside the lines.
What the hell, kid? YOU'RE THREE. If ever there is a time in life that you are allowed to be all wild and crazy with your coloring, NOW IS IT.
Quit being an OCD little freak and live a little. Please?
Thank you!
Love,
The Momma Who Wants You to Learn that Sometimes It's OK to Bend the Rules a Little
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Reader Comments (20)
LOL! I have a three-year-old with this same problem. When her sister was 3 she took one red crayon and scribbled the entire picture. Not Gilly! It takes her multiple sessions to color a picture to her liking...
I'll remind you that you wanted her to learn to live a little and bend the rules when she's 16 and doing just that.
I used to keep the word's to Harry Chapin's Flowers Are Red song on my office door when I worked with kids to remind parents not to be so rigid - good to see you need no such reminders!
Wow that's pretty impressive! My 6 and 7 year olds probably color outside the lines more than that! Actually they do everything outside the lines....Maybe we can get them together and they can learn a little from one another and we'll have a typical kid? Probably wouldn't work they'd go from one extreme to the other!
That is some impressive coloring!
Ya. What Karen said. When she's a teenager, I'm going to remind you of this.
Very impressive coloring!
Hah! That is very, very, impressive. I have rarely seen kids in kindergarten who can stay in the line!
you make my heart happy. i love that you are the kind of mom who thinks of these things. my momma was the same way.
Ashlyn is 5 and going to Kindergarten and doesn't color like that! She can stay in the lines but the colors are all a crazy mix of whatever strikes her fancy at that moment and people are often purple or green.
Wow! She's impressive! When Rocco was 3, his coloring consisted of a couple lines on the page, using one color, then he'd be done. But I can related to Miss Alexis. Even now when I color with the boys, I always use the "right" colors. And anyway, I bet she's plenty wild and crazy in other areas of her life :-)
Damn she colors better than me! :)
Momma? Is she wild and crazy in other areas? Let her be an artist. She's got the goods, woman. :)
Her coloring is precise! Amazing! They tend to imitate at this age. She is well above average in her skill. When I taught preschool, I would promote a period of "scribble scrabble" where my three year olds could make crazy pics on a blank page and scribble all they wanted. We congratulated them, and tried to promote self esteem that way. They had other times where they could try to be perfect. The parents, on the other hand wanted us to play by etiquettes rules and make/force them to color carefully. Glad your encouraging her to be a free spirit. Good Job, Mama!
It's ok to bend the rules sometimes... but NOT when coloring!!!
Love the way you parent! But you knew that already. :)
Maybe get some finger paints and have crazy color sessions?
Skye was the same exact way. Her kindergarten teacher told me she always had to have extra sheets on hand; because my daughter was never satisfied with her first attempt, and had to do it over until she got it just right. Drove me crazy. I was delighted she was so concerned with getting it right, but truly wished she would ease up and take it easy so times. A kid shouldn't be so serious that young. (Hugs)Indigo
That is some impressive coloring for a 3 year old! Hell, it's impressive for a 31 year old ;)
Great job, Alexis :)
But coloring princesses is different! They are so pretty! ;)
That's some seriously impressive colouring in for a 3yo!
Dang, that is some good coloring for a 3-year-old! A good skill to have, for sure! If you want her to exercise her creative side, hook her up with a blank drawing pad and some brand new crayons or paints! You may have a little artist on your hands!