Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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{Behind the Scenes} From yes to no more

June 11, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

“Hey, Mom, where are those paint sticks?”

Clearly we don’t paint much.

But I decided to say “yes” last week when Cate asked if they could paint. I gave them each a Styrofoam plate with five paint choices, three paint brushes and a cup of water. See those colors on the top of each of the pages? Those are watercolors that neither wanted to use. Ben was just following Cate’s lead with that choice.

See that black patch Ben is intently painting? Not too many moments later, his entire page was his self-mixed black. The whole page. So I got him a new page, which this time didn’t have a picture because clearly that wasn’t important to him.

And before he filled his second page with his red-and-yellow-and-blue-and white-and-green-make-black paint, he used his brush to slap a huge glob of his creation on Cate’s more meticulous-painted picture. Cate is a creative girl who carries a notebook and colors with her most everywhere, so this was an offensive violation of her personal, artistic space.

“Ben, you’re done painting because you couldn’t respect Cate’s space.”

Trust me, I know little brothers are bound to overstep boundaries and sometimes big sisters just need to get over it, but the black paint bomb was rude and we’re in that continual your-actions-have-consequences training mode.

Cate got a new paper and Ben went to his room, clearly mad at me. I decided it was just as well he regroup. But then I didn’t hear from him for 20 minutes, so I went to check on him. I found him asleep in his bed. And he stayed that way through lunch, without wetting his bed even though he wasn’t wearing a Pull-Up, for a couple hours.

Yes, it started with a picture of my kids sitting on their own half of the kitchen table, painting with those sticks, but it ended for Ben when he painted way too far outside the lines and onto Cate’s page. I was the “yes” mom and then had to be the “no more” mom. But I managed to come out with some lovely paintings on the refrigerator and the pleasant aftermath that follows a much-needed nap.

________

crystalstine.meToday I’m participating in “Behind the Scenes,” linking up with Crystal Stine. I love the encouragement to share real life happening beyond what a photo shared on Facebook captures. Yet another way for this momma to embrace imperfection. 

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Filed Under: Ben, Cate, motherhood

Comments

  1. Kim@onerebelheart says

    June 11, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    Love this glimpse inside your daily life! I'm SO familiar with the older/younger sibling dynamic, and sometimes it can be just because one of them needs a nap. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Crystal says

    June 11, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Oh bless his heart! Sometimes I have to remind myself to go "regroup" as well..and sometimes, a nap is just what's needed πŸ™‚ So glad you linked up with me today!

    Reply
  3. KristinHillTaylor says

    June 11, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Yes – me too. And then I have to remind myself my kids are just little people who have the same emotions and mental exhaustion that I do sometimes. Thanks for hosting this great link-up!

    Reply
  4. Mel says

    June 11, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Love it! I'm working so hard to let Mae make bigger messes…and you should see my couch right now. I'm. Doing. Good. πŸ˜‰ Good for you for all that painting fun happening at your house…your kids are painting some awesome memories. πŸ™‚ Blessings, friend!

    Reply
  5. KristinHillTaylor says

    June 11, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    I watch their dynamic and it reminds me so much of my brother and I – of course we had a little sister thrown in too! πŸ™‚ Thanks for visiting and commenting, Kim!

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    June 11, 2013 at 6:24 pm

    It's hard to let them make messes, isn't it?! πŸ™‚ Hope you're having a great day!

    Reply

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and love sharing with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our fifth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear second-grade boy, and our joy-filled toddler girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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