Play-dough People

[velvetpage]

"Make a mommy, Mommy! Make a mommy wit' day-dough!"

So, using purple play dough, I made a round head, square body, and four limbs that Elizabeth declared to be snakes before they were attached. "Voilà une maman," I told her, pleased with myself.

She took a tiny piece of play dough and stuck it onto the mommy's head. "Here's your eyes," she said. Another little bit. "Here's your nose," she continued. It was more or less in the centre of the face. I made encouraging noises about needing a nez pour sentir. One more little bit got attached to my head. Ears? I thought.

"Here's your telephone, Mommy," she declared. Next little bit turned out to be a robot piece.

Yeah. I think I should get Ursula to draw a Mommy as Elizabeth sees it - eyes together and far to the right, a blob of a nose, no mouth, and a telephone and robot piece permanently attached to an earless head, all done in purple.

Comments

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

Your daughter has a very interesting artistic vision! Purple is definitely the way to go :D

[spiralsongkat.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Big Purple Mommy?

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

No. I was considering writing it, but since it already exists, I suppose I shouldn't. :) What's it about?

[spiralsongkat.livejournal.com]

It's a book of encouragement and advice for women who are involved in creative work (writing, music, painting, theater...) and are also mothers. The title comes from an experience the author had: at a moment when she was feeling especially discouraged and down on herself, along came her preschool daughter with a drawing she'd just completed, of a smiling purple woman stretching up to the sun.

"That's nice, honey. Who is she?"
"Mommy, that's you!"

There's a lot in the book about balancing the need as an artist for space and time and self-focus, vs. the need as a mother to cherish, nurture and enjoy one's child. I like the book a lot. Come to think of it, you'd probably like it, too.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I just ordered a copy from Amazon - used, came to under ten bucks. Thanks for the recommendation. Since it's being shipped from somewhere in Ontario (read: within a two-hour drive of here) I should get it next Tuesday or Wednesday. I hope.