I, on the other hand, am, and always have been an artist. I love to create. So, imagine how I have gritted my teeth and tried to keep a smile on my face after spending 15 minutes getting an art project all set up for Addison and I to do together, only to have him sit for about 3 seconds flat, make one mark on the paper and then run off like a banshee. And there I sit at the dining table, alone, with construction paper and finger paints, letting out a huge sigh before I have to clean it all up.
I've tried it all ---- play-doh and paints, crayons, glue, stickers and markers. Now I am smarter and save most art projects for places where someone else has done all the set up (like OMSI). Still, it usually looks something like this.
So, I tried a new tactic.
Knowing that Addison thrives on doing things "the right way" I finally broke down and did what I've tried so hard not to do. I showed him step-by-step how to draw a person. We make the head and the body, the eyes, the hair... all the body parts, and we practice doing it just so.
And if that works for him, then by golly, I can let it go.
