Today, as I strolled to my 3-year-old’s preschool, I was greeted with a smile from the teacher, who eagerly pointed out a cubby overflowing with my son’s artistic creations. I fought the urge to roll my eyes as she beamed at the collection of dried paint splatters and crayon marks. With a forced smile that concealed my frustration, I gathered the pile, tossed it into the car, and when I got home, I unceremoniously disposed of the entire lot.
Am I a terrible mother? Not at all—just a practical one. Each day, teachers send home every single scrap of paper my child touches, showcasing their so-called “art.” Honestly, I want to tell them, “Save yourself the trouble. I send my kid to you for three hours of peace! They could be wrestling on the playground for all I care, as long as I can hit the gym and run errands without interruption.” And let’s be real; I see very little artistry in those scribbles. What even is this supposed to be?
Then there’s this delightful piece titled “Patrick’s Egg Painting.” Is it meant to resemble an egg? Was it created using an egg? Or is there no egg involved at all? And don’t even get me started on the projects where teachers lend a hand. Take this masterpiece: my son, who can barely wield scissors, supposedly cut out these stars and attached them with tape. The last time he got his hands on tape, it took me twenty minutes to remove it from his hair!
And while I’m not one to shy away from creativity, do I really need a rocket ship that looks suspiciously like a certain part of the male anatomy adorning my refrigerator?
I’ve kept a small box of treasures for each of my little ones—enough to show that if A&E ever needs background footage for a biopic about my future president—or perhaps a notorious criminal—I’ll appear to be the doting mother everyone expects. I cherish the holiday ornaments with their tiny faces and the handprint crafts for Mother’s Day, but the in-between clutter goes straight to the trash. My son, Patrick, certainly doesn’t mind. When I held up one of his colorful smudges and asked what it was, he looked up blankly from his monster truck showdown, shrugged, and returned to his game. Clearly, it wasn’t worth saving.
Now that my daughter Grace is getting older, I handle her creations with a bit more tact. Fortunately, her work is becoming more recognizable. I give her the praise she deserves, then stash the pieces away until they become forgotten. Eventually, my cabinet looks like it belongs on a hoarding reality show, and I toss everything in the trash while she’s at school.
A few times, she’s discovered her artwork in the bin and has thrown a fit. So, I’ve sat her down and explained, “Sweetheart, you are an incredible artist, but I can’t keep everything you make. You need to decide if a piece is truly your best work. If it is, I’ll display it, but if it’s not, it has to go so you can create something new.” After thinking it over, she usually agrees with me, and we toss the less impressive work.
To encourage her, I’ve created a dedicated kids’ art wall that showcases her most stellar pieces. We’re interpreting “stellar” rather loosely for my son, just to keep things light-hearted for his future therapist.
Remember, as talented as your pint-sized Picassos may seem now, in 15 years, you’ll be wondering what on earth that artwork is doing cluttering your space!
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Summary:
The constant influx of children’s artwork can be overwhelming for parents. While it’s important to encourage creativity, practicality often leads parents to dispose of most creations. Balancing praise with the reality of limited space is crucial, and setting up a dedicated space for showcasing the best pieces can help manage the chaos.