It's been a while since my girls and I sat down together and crafted. This used to be an everyday occurrence for us, especially when we homeschooled when they were younger. The table would be covered in colored paper and glitter. Crayons, markers, and paintbrushes were always nearby, and our refrigerator and walls were art exhibits for years.
We still love art and have a plethora of supplies, but as my girls have grown older, instead of a messy dining room table, the supplies are tucked away on our craft shelf. Their art has transitioned from crayons and paper to digital drawings and animation using electronics. Instead of the refrigerator showcasing their masterpieces, we now have our favorites framed in our hallway and receive texts on our family thread showcasing their latest animations & creations.
Yesterday I was feeling sentimental and missed the messy table. I missed the scattered crayons and crumpled paper. I even missed the mess of glitter that would inevitably find its way to every corner in the house.
As it happened, my mom sent us an adorable animal egg carton craft idea she thought that my 10-year-old daughter would want to try, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get the table messy again. As fond memories filled my head, I asked all three of my girls if they wanted to craft together. They all responded with a resounding “no.”
I won’t lie; their responses hurt. I didn't let it stop me, though. I was determined to have a messy table again, even if I had to mess it up by myself. So, I pulled out the paper, egg cartons, markers, glue, and scissors off our craft shelf, turned on music, and started crafting.
It wasn't long before my middle daughter was curious about the mess on the table, and she joined me. To my pleasure, the mess grew as we made cute, imperfect egg carton creatures, and soon my youngest daughter joined as well. Creativity and laughter flowed through our dining room, and my heart almost exploded with happiness when my oldest daughter (15) also joined the artistic fun. I took a moment to cherish the moment and realized we were making more than egg carton animals. We were making a positive memory, and positive memories are important. In fact, recalling positive memories can help lower stress and boost overall mental health! Author and educator Charles R. Swindoll says, “Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” I don't know about you, but if I am making deposits to my children's memory banks every day, I want the deposits to be worth it.
This craft was simple and silly, and I don't know why my children decided to join me. To be honest, I don't think it matters. What does matter is that we were together, and this moment was a positive deposit in their memory banks. With the end of COVID-19 lockdowns/restrictions approaching, and as the girls continue to grow, I recognize that moments like this will be rare.
So here’s to you, parents! You are a bigger influence than you know. Even if your child isn't initially interested or tells you no, do the silly, messy thing today. Get out the paint, the glitter, and stickers. Bake cookies or throw a dance party! Do whatever it takes to make one positive memory today because while the days may seem long, the years go by fast.
If you're interested in the craft we did, see below! It’s simple and you can be as creative as you want to be.
Egg Carton Animal Heads
Supplies:
Egg Carton
Scissors
Glue
Paper
Markers
Instructions:
Choose an animal to create
Cut egg carton to your animal desired shape
Draw animal features on the egg carton shape
Glue the finished animal on paper of choice
Don't forget the most important instruction of all... Have fun!
