I can’t help but feel like a bad mom, but whenever I catch a glimpse of that spark of creativity in my kids’ eyes, especially when one of them shouts, “Oh! I have an AMAZING IDEA!” – I can’t help but feel a pang of annoyance.
In theory, their bursts of inspiration are fantastic. In reality, they often translate into a ridiculous amount of work for me. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.
Max’s Grand Ideas
Take my seven-year-old, Max, for instance. Whenever he comes up with a grand idea, my immediate involvement is required. His excitement is so intense that it wipes out any patience or rationality he might have (which is already in short supply). He dreams of the impossible, and guess who’s tasked with making those dreams a reality? You guessed it.
I once enrolled the kids in a week-long film-making camp. Big mistake. The camp ignited their imaginations, which I prefer to keep at a gentle simmer. When I picked them up yesterday, Max immediately announced he was “inspired” to create a stop-motion short film.
These film-making ideas are the ones I dread the most because they are time-consuming and require me to use technology I barely understand. I would gladly help him build a Lego tower or write an epic crossover story between his favorite movies. Just please, not anything that needs video editing software!
The Time Crunch
At 6 PM, he’s ready to shoot a movie. There’s dinner to prepare, baths to run, and bedtime stories to read, and I know from experience that making a movie can easily swallow up an entire afternoon—two to four hours, minimum. Not exactly the ideal project to tackle just before bed.
These ill-timed bursts of creativity fill me with dread. When I gently explain to Max, “Sweetheart, we really don’t have time to make a movie before bedtime,” he explodes. Doesn’t he realize he’s channeling a cosmic force of creativity that cannot be delayed or cut short? He’s fueled by a burning desire to CREATE, and bedtime is the least of his concerns. He’s convinced that the masterpiece in his mind will perish if he doesn’t capture it right away. Do I really want his BRILLIANT MASTERPIECE to fade away into oblivion?
He assures me it will only take five minutes. And I fall for it. I’m a sucker for his grand ideas and divine inspiration—perhaps even more than he is. After all, I’ve saved countless drawings of his favorite video game characters. Of course, I’ll help him achieve his impossible dream.
Chaos Ensues
And that’s how I find myself past bedtime, frantically interviewing a Ninjago mini figure, all while ignoring my four-year-old daughter, Lily, who’s yelling for help with her own project in the bathroom.
“Mommy, I NEED HELP!”
“Mommy, why are you ignoring me?”
“MOMMMMMMYYYYY!”
Finally, I reply, “We’re FILMING in here! Max, cut! We’ll have to redo that take after I help your sister!”
This is where inspiration can lead you. It’s precisely why I strive to keep my kids’ creative sparks in check—unless, of course, they’re getting inspired to take a nap. That’s one genius idea they never seem to have.
Further Reading
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In summary, while my children’s bursts of creativity can be overwhelming and often inconvenient, they remind me of the joy and chaos of parenting. I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything, even if they do sometimes lead to late-night filming sessions.
Keyphrase: Kids Creativity
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