I’ve joked that I have ADD of Craft.
What I mean is that I may WANT to knit, crochet, paint, sculpt, sew, or whatever-it-is-the-other-cool-moms-are-doing, but I can’t.
No, really, I can’t.
Let’s take crocheting as an example, although I could replace that word with “knitting”, “rug-hooking” or even “cross stitching”: I decide to give it a go and buy all the supplies: the hooks, the yarn, the how-to book. I sit down and start to crochet. I get pretty good at making a long, skinny snake. But, after 10 minutes, I get hungry. I get thirsty. I want to check Twitter. My back hurts. My foot falls asleep. I get hungry again.
Guess where my crochet stuff is now? On a shelf, collecting dust.
My newest desire is a sewing machine. I could make so many cool things if only I had a sewing machine!
But, I know better.
I know I’ll make a couple of dolls for the kids, maybe even sew something useful, like a curtain. And then I’ll get distracted, bored, stabbed by the needle. It’ll go from being fun and interesting to a chore in the blink of an eye.
Why is this?
I can sit with a book for hours and read, read, read. But drag me to a store to look at yarn or, god forbid, fabric, and I’ll weep like a hungry two year old. I still remember being dragged to a craft store with my mother and wanting to lie down on the dirty floor and take a nap while her and my sister oohed and ahhed over sequins or buttons.
But, I still want my kids to be surrounded by creativity despite my shortcomings.
So I’ll pour my heart into creating themed birthday parties. We will celebrate holidays that aren’t ours by religion or ethnicity. My natural tendency to abandon ship kicks in right around the time the holiday or party is over, so it’s a win-win for us all.
This weekend, for instance, we’ll celebrate Purim even though we aren’t Jewish. I’ll read the story of Esther to them, I’ll make Robin’s Hamentaschen and the kids’ can dress up in their old Halloween costumes.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll throw my newly 7-year-old a Rock Star party and will go all out with crafts and games. I’ll have fun planning it, but will be so glad when it’s over.
But, no matter what I chose to do, you can be assured it won’t involve a knitting needle or shiny new sewing machine.
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I understand completely. I've failed at knitting, gotten bored with mosaics, all sorts of things. Nothing clicked until I finally discovered photography.
If kids' parties and holiday celebrations is your thing then enjoy it for all its worth, and comfortably put them up on a shelf the rest of the year.
PS I'm not allowed to get a sewing machine either, for the very same reasons ;).
PPS Enjoy the hamentaschen :).
I understand completely. I've failed at knitting, gotten bored with mosaics, all sorts of things. Nothing clicked until I finally discovered photography.
If kids' parties and holiday celebrations is your thing then enjoy it for all its worth, and comfortably put them up on a shelf the rest of the year.
PS I'm not allowed to get a sewing machine either, for the very same reasons ;).
PPS Enjoy the hamentaschen :).
I have a sewing machine. Somewhere. Moved it from one house to the other and can't find it. That was over 5 years ago.
Mmmmmm…Hamanetashen. Fond memories from my "Christian living a Jewish Life" in the early 90s 🙂
I have a sewing machine. Somewhere. Moved it from one house to the other and can't find it. That was over 5 years ago.
Mmmmmm…Hamanetashen. Fond memories from my "Christian living a Jewish Life" in the early 90s 🙂
I have a huge box of craft supplies from various projects (some completed, some abandoned) at the bottom of my closet. When I stub my toe on it every morning, it's a constant reminder that I, too, should not get a sewing machine. Or more glitter.
I have a huge box of craft supplies from various projects (some completed, some abandoned) at the bottom of my closet. When I stub my toe on it every morning, it's a constant reminder that I, too, should not get a sewing machine. Or more glitter.
I tried to learn to make a quilt. I ended up with 2 squares and that was IT.
We celebrate holidays from around the world. It is something we started with the boys while living in Italy. We love learning about the traditions of the places we live.
Birthday parties are HUGE for us. I am having trouble planning one for my teenager. He wants an X BOX party! Where is the fun in that?
I tried to learn to make a quilt. I ended up with 2 squares and that was IT.
We celebrate holidays from around the world. It is something we started with the boys while living in Italy. We love learning about the traditions of the places we live.
Birthday parties are HUGE for us. I am having trouble planning one for my teenager. He wants an X BOX party! Where is the fun in that?
I'm the same way. I have ADD when it comes to learning new games or things like sewing/knitting/crocheting. My husband's grandmother tried to teach me to knit once – I'm still not sure if I was a bad student or she a bad teacher. 🙂 In any case, I bought and returned a sewing machine several months ago when I couldn't be bothered to read the instructions.
All this to say, me too! me too!
I'm the same way. I have ADD when it comes to learning new games or things like sewing/knitting/crocheting. My husband's grandmother tried to teach me to knit once – I'm still not sure if I was a bad student or she a bad teacher. 🙂 In any case, I bought and returned a sewing machine several months ago when I couldn't be bothered to read the instructions.
All this to say, me too! me too!
I'm totally struggling to find any creative outlet for my kids. I tried encorporating art in to our week, but I got really stuck with the book I was using. I got discouraged and gave up. Personally, the only creativity i have left is trying to expand our allergy-free menu library. Oh, I need to go see if I can convert my gfcfef waffle recipe in to a banana pancake recipe. Sigh.
I'm totally struggling to find any creative outlet for my kids. I tried encorporating art in to our week, but I got really stuck with the book I was using. I got discouraged and gave up. Personally, the only creativity i have left is trying to expand our allergy-free menu library. Oh, I need to go see if I can convert my gfcfef waffle recipe in to a banana pancake recipe. Sigh.
I'm not crafty either BUT I also suck at party planning. My older son is celebrating his 6th at a bowling alley, and that seems to be as much planning as I can possibly muster.
I'm not crafty either BUT I also suck at party planning. My older son is celebrating his 6th at a bowling alley, and that seems to be as much planning as I can possibly muster.
I get that way with all that, planning parties, the kit and kaboodle. I hate having dinner parties, the whole bit. Maybe b/c it's just me. When I was married it was actually fun Then again he did all the cooking so….
I get that way with all that, planning parties, the kit and kaboodle. I hate having dinner parties, the whole bit. Maybe b/c it's just me. When I was married it was actually fun Then again he did all the cooking so….
Hmmm. . . an X-box party. . .ok, that would have me stumped too SabrinaT!
DBMamaz: I have LOADS of "art books" for the kids but realized I never use them. The girls take art at a local place (see previous post for "art show"). Mostly, I just have loads of arts and crafts at easy reach so they can grab whatever they want and start making things. I don't oversee 99% of what they do b/c I start yawning about 5 minutes into it.
Nicole, a bowling party is so much fun! The kids will have a blast no matter what, so no worries there. I probably spend as much doing a home party as if I had just paid a place to throw it, so it's certainly not more economical. . .
And, Jessica/bernthis: I don't like doing Dinner Parties—they sound nice but the pressure! Ugh. I'm better off feeding preschoolers.
Hmmm. . . an X-box party. . .ok, that would have me stumped too SabrinaT!
DBMamaz: I have LOADS of "art books" for the kids but realized I never use them. The girls take art at a local place (see previous post for "art show"). Mostly, I just have loads of arts and crafts at easy reach so they can grab whatever they want and start making things. I don't oversee 99% of what they do b/c I start yawning about 5 minutes into it.
Nicole, a bowling party is so much fun! The kids will have a blast no matter what, so no worries there. I probably spend as much doing a home party as if I had just paid a place to throw it, so it's certainly not more economical. . .
And, Jessica/bernthis: I don't like doing Dinner Parties—they sound nice but the pressure! Ugh. I'm better off feeding preschoolers.
Glad I'm not the only one!
Glad I'm not the only one!
I consider myself crafty but not for *that* sort of crafts. I can't knit, crochet, embroider, sew, applique, any of it. I have a sewing machine and it fills me with guilt because I bought it with grand plans and have never figured out how to thread the bobber! 🙂 I think I broke the bleeping thing trying to make it work and it's just crammed under the window seat.
I like art though. I like just experimenting with odd materials and seeing what happens. The other day I plugged in the electric griddle, put paper on it and Jack and I drew crayon pictures on it. It was such fun! The crayons melt as you draw and produce these bright, thick, greasy masterpieces. LOL That's my kind of craft. 🙂
I consider myself crafty but not for *that* sort of crafts. I can't knit, crochet, embroider, sew, applique, any of it. I have a sewing machine and it fills me with guilt because I bought it with grand plans and have never figured out how to thread the bobber! 🙂 I think I broke the bleeping thing trying to make it work and it's just crammed under the window seat.
I like art though. I like just experimenting with odd materials and seeing what happens. The other day I plugged in the electric griddle, put paper on it and Jack and I drew crayon pictures on it. It was such fun! The crayons melt as you draw and produce these bright, thick, greasy masterpieces. LOL That's my kind of craft. 🙂
LOL. If you would ever like to come to my hood so I can do some craft therapy for you, let me know. 🙂 -Christine
LOL. If you would ever like to come to my hood so I can do some craft therapy for you, let me know. 🙂 -Christine
I am right there with you, I have craft ADD too
I am right there with you, I have craft ADD too