A first grade girl handed in a drawing for her homework assignment.
The teacher graded it and the child brought it home.
She returned to school the next day with the following note:
“Dear Ms. Davis,
I want to be perfectly clear on my child’s homework illustration.
It is NOT of me on a dance pole on a stage in a strip joint surrounded by male customers with money.
I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm.
This drawing is of me selling a shovel.”
A child’s perception can be fascinating…
I remember an exercise that my girls did in their kindergarten class. They were asked to define through art what their parents did for a living. Of course many were professionals and some were stay-at-home moms. Much to my surprise, my daughter thought I was a Doctor. Her father is a plastic surgeon and I was a bit concerned by her confusion, although it sounded quite important. After discussing it with her, she said, “Mommy you always fix my boo boos and you make all my friends that get hurt feel better.” I was so touched that she trusted me with her painful moments and felt secure that I could heal all wounds.
My other daughter thought that I was a “sign in the sky” that was her best way of describing an advertising campaign that was plastered on billboards around town. I liked that one, LOL! Rain understands that I work on TV but doesn’t appreciate the fact that when she talks to me on the small screen, I do not talk back! Shaya thinks he has two mommies, one on TV and one at home. I wish there were some truth to that concept!
My children were also asked to draw a picture of their family. One of my daughters drew 9 people, which included all members of my family and her father’s. Funny thing was how we were all happily gathered in one big blended family home…Yeah right! My other daughter drew only Mom, Dad and her sister, of course the animals made the cut too. Sadly the new stepparents were not so worthy.
Everyone has their own ideas and child’s point of view can be vastly different than our own. I embrace that. I also make an effort to communicate with each of my kids and I’m constantly trying to better understand what my children think and feel.
I love their uncensored visual minds. It’s what they don’t always see that’s even more fascinating. Ask your children what they think of you…you just may learn something.
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