Creative (Rookie) Mother of the Day

Problem: Kids (especially bigger one) are whining and wanting attention and wanting to "dooooo something, Mama!" while Mama wants to make dinner in the afternoon so it will be all ready in the evening.

Idea: Mama will set up the children with finger painting, which they will then do together, cooperatively, cheerfully, and neatly while Mama prepares stuffed shells and sausages nearby. By doing thus, children will have a wholesome good time and Mama will win Creative Mother of the Day award.

Reality: Mama lugs easel from upstairs into the kitchen, puts smocks on children, shows them how to paint.

Soon there is paint in each child's hair, as put their by the other child.

A stool is retrieved to be able to paint the top of the paper.

Mama ends up being called over a half dozen times to refill the bowls of paint, to break up sharing squabbles, and to stop the little one from eating the paint. Then the children declare themselves done, so Mama washes their hands in the bathroom, thus necessitating that the whole bathroom be wiped free of paint. The smocks must be washed. The kitchen floor must be mopped. And the children must be bathed.

How much progress on those stuffed shells do you think Mama made through all of this?

It was a good idea, but a rookie mother move!