Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Coloring with Hannah (and Points!)

It's a daring proposition to take out the markers while Hannah is around. Of course they're "washable" markers, and she absolutely loves them, so sometimes I gear myself up for messiness and let her color with them. This is how it goes at our house:
"Okay Hannah, only touch this part of the marker. Not the end where the color comes out. This part. That's where you hold it."
She impatiently tries to grab the marker. "Hannah. Wait. wait. Wait. Do you understand?" I demonstrate correct marker-holding technique again.
She grabs it. A little gets on her hands. Okay, deep breath. It's okay. She's just a child. Kids get markers on their hands. Deep breath. During my deep breath sequence I watch Kenzie coloring with the markers. She does pretty good. I look back to Hannah. Somehow in this brief calming moment, marker is on the floor, marker is on Hannah's shirt and marker is up and down Hannah's arms.
"No Hannah! No!" I grab desperately for the marker, causing her to pull it into her body protectively. Her pants are now markered.
"We only draw on the paper! On the paper!" As I wrestle for the marker I end up with marker all over my hands. I succesfully cap the purple marker as Hannah reaches for red.
"Oh no. We're done with markers. Mommy can only handle about 5 min. of markers. No more. No more."
Now Hannah is crying hysterically and everything she touches turns purple. She reaches for me to wipe her nose on and smear her hands, but I carefully swoop her to the sink. I think I've avoided most of the mess. I know they have those special markers, but I have philosophical differences with markers that only allow you to color in approved areas. Plus, they're delayed. It's like those "energy saving" light bulbs. You flip on the switch and think you've got the wrong switch because it takes so long. Maybe they should market those Color Wonder markers as "Energy Saving." Then congress can pass a bill that doesn't allow the regular kind of markers to be manufactured anymore because they were just too messy. But I digress. . .

"Mess Tolerance" should be listed on the job application for motherhood. I hate cleaning; our laundry should feel pleased that I at least get around to it once every 10 days, and dishes? I hope you're reading this because I expect you to start picking up the slack and do yourselves most of the time.

So things like coloring with markers, doing crafts with children, or any activities that cause more than the usual mess (anything fun for children), I have a hard time with. The usual mess seems mountainous enough without adding glittery sparkles and marker handprints to it. I guess I need to stop being so lazy. I can sweep twice a day. Really. I can. And I love mopping. It's so good for my brain.

I think this Couples Challenge is a bit like playing with markers with Hannah. Part of me is all excited to provide some fun activity but the other part of me is yelling, "No! No! Why did I even try this?" And then I just get marker all over my hands anyway. (Okay that was a stretch. I'm sorry. I always used to tell my English students they needed to transition better, and I was going for the transition, but it just didn't quite work out that way. If I had a red pen and was correcting this blog I'd write, "Needs better transition" right in the margin there on the left)

If you're participating in our Couples Challenge, add your points to the comments. Remember 28 points possible (Sunday exercise points come from exercising your faith or patience at church that day). We got 25 points. I lost two for eating like a crazy woman and Mike lost one because he was so busy making sure I was a princess on my birthday that he didn't have time to exercise. How'd you do?

11 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Dang it! I forgot to talk to my husband about this challenge. Let's just say we have -23 points right now.

I was just thinking about you today, for some reason!

Cris Pebley said...

So the funny thing is, I was actaully thinking about markers in the shower today (don't ask me why) and how I think they are evil and for older children. I too, am against messes and cleaning them up!

We rocked and had a perfect week to start out with. 28 points!

Pebley Family said...

The no name Pebleys who still don't have a name.(We haven't talked about it since the challenge was challenged). We got 28 points.! Hooray for us!

Alisha said...

I have just figured out why you like doing these blog challenges...it forces people to leave comments... are you really that desperate? :)
Well for us we got a good 21 points. (one of us has a hurt foot and can't exercise, while the other is lazy cause it's cold outside)

Hollie said...

Garrett ate a marker once, chewed and swallowed the whole felt tip. I haven't bought markers since.

ROBYN -N- KEVIN said...

So do I get points for NOT eating treats?? I am trying... but we only had 18 this week. Darn Kevin and his lack of exercise and his sweet tooth.

kristi lou said...

only 19 for us, mostly my fault. nate's been pretty awesome.

Trevor and Liz Covington said...

shucks... we suck.. Covingtons only got 16... but my parents sabotaged me by taking me on a road trip and forcing to eat cracker jacks for 14 hrs and not exercise for an entire weekend!!

Mark and Kristen said...

We heard that if you buy a kid and easel, they'll stop coloring on the walls. Not true. We have dry-erase marker (that does not wash off with soap and water) on just about every wall. We bought a little plastic organizing tote that snaps shut for art supplies and hair stuff, that seems to be working when I'm not available to supervise.

Marcie said...

I can only think of one thing that is actually worse then markers.....
PLAYDOUGH. Just the thought of the mess gives me anxiety.

Anonymous said...

26 for wimpy and gimpy

Dad