Being creative people, parents or not, means that we attack the world in a different way than the norm. This life can be more exciting but often humbling to our children.

My very own Fashion Fairy (FF) was required in her preschool days to come to school dressed in “Hula” attire for Hawaii Day. Hmmmm….Hawaiian Paraphernalia???? I had no clue what to do! But I am nothing if not resourceful!!!

She had a little tankini swimsuit with a Dark Blue, Light Blue and Lime Green Island print. I had spools of Dark Blue, Light Blue and Lime Green ¼” wide, miles long, gift wrapping ribbon that perfectly matched the colors of her swimsuit. After bustling her off to bed, I began to create far into the night. Far longer than a mother with two toddlers who has to show up for work the next day should be up, creating an astounding grass skirt from the ribbon, with leis and head piece to match.

I WAS GENIUS!!!

SHE WAS HORRIFIED!

The next morning, I convinced her to put her outfit on, insisting that it, “was to a grass skirt!” and trotted her pouting little 4 year old self off to school. The teachers were amazed at my handiwork, as they met us at the door of the classroom. As I scooted her into the room with the other 4 year old Hula Hooligans, I saw…then I knew!

Every child there had on the Hula Special outfit from the summer collection at the Dollar Tree. Understand that I have nothing against the Dollar Tree. I would have dragged my two toddlers in and out of the Dollar Tree so fast that they would have only been able to take down two or three displays before I left with a $1 Hula Skirt in my hand…..IF I HAD KNOWN!

Being creative adults, we sometimes miss the obvious things in life.  Such as:

The only true, authentic Hula Skirts all come from the Dollar Tree and do not require the better part of a night to create. 

 And

Having you as parent may be fun at times, but your children will, at some point, maybe many points, cringe at the public display of your talents.

 
Well…God bestowed us upon them for some reason. Let’s pray it was for a more than their continuing lesson in humility.

www.DreamArc.com

Flutter-By Cottage

“This whimsical playhouse features a window wall where children can watch butterflies fluttering among the flowers.  In the evening the flower baskets can be replaced with lanterns to light the garden.”        - Holly Gomez, A Place Imagined

Holly Gomez, a fellow architect and friend, created a magical world at www.aplaceimagined.blogspot.com.  There she celebrates the need for adults and children to have a little nook of their own to give space for their imaginations to grow.

Her doodles grew from a thought to reality with the auction for Habitat for Humanity.  Habitat recruited architects to design and contractors to build playhouses to be auctioned to raise money to house families. 

Imagination used to build a play space AND a living space.  Nothing could be more delightful!  (Of course, being an architect and parent myself, may cause me to be a bit biased   )

julia ashley

www.DreamArc.com

This is one of My Little Fashion Fairy’s early depictions of the Color of her Imagination!

Go to www.DreamArc.com to the Contact Me page and send a picture of your imagination or one rendered by your handy dandy child artist.  They are much more fearless in such matters.  Please, put Imagination Art in the Subject, and I will create a Gallery of all the Imagination Art sent.

Are you trying to live your wildly creative, deeply analyzed, enriched life (or the one you strive to have) while juggling small monkey creatures who call you Mom or Dad?

Are you working a full time job, trying to work, eat, sleep and occasionally breathe while climbing over the pile of papers that keep coming home from school?

Are you envying your children who get to play with glue and scissors and colored paper and wish you could join them in their spontaneous dance instead of paying the bills?

If so, join us here!

We share advice on being the imaginative creative You while not embarrassing you children in front of their friends.  I KNOW!  It is impossible, but it sure is fun to try.  We share questions and tips from experience on how we are authentic US’s and how we can encourage them to be authentic THEM’s.