Adventures in Parenthood- the artist as mommy

Q didn't want to go to school that morning. He was moving slowly
and grumblingly avoiding the usual dressing process. Time passed with each of us scurrying around- the usual morning tango. He called for me in the bathroom and Max answered.
"I just want Mommy", he stated from behind the door.

I went in to find him still lacking clothing, but now wearing an entire tube of sparkly blue mint toothpaste.

Continuing the surveillance, I took in a wad of toothpaste-covered toilet paper at his feet. Might have been an entire roll......the scent of a toothpaste factory.

I look him up and down silently. Finally "Looks like you'd like to shower before school then?"

Grateful at my simple response, he nods sincerely up and down.

As I turn the shower on, he added quietly, "I just wanted to be blue today".

************
Of course safely out of the bathroom, I laughed my face off telling Max about it. Sooo funny! I would have taken a photo, but didn't want to make a big deal or reward him for making a big mess. LOL!!!

Yea, it wasn't a great idea of his, and I could have been annoyed, but life is so much more than "right and wrong". I want to know what is behind that action. I ask my kids the honest question, "What were you thinking?" and I don't mean asking sarcastically. Behind their "wrong" behavior is often something so understandable. That day he didn't want to go to school, and he would rather spend his morning painting himself blue. He's six. I respect that urge.

At dinner the next night, I was telling the kids what we'd do with their unexpected day off (the following day). I counted my fingers while casually ticking off jobs and events like:
-finish homework,
-walk the dog,
-paint Quillan REALLY REALLY REALLY blue with my new birthday finger paints,
-do my etsy shipping,
-grocery shop
-and we'll try to fit in something fun.....

They were all, "WHAT??? Go back! goback! What are we doing??!! Painting Quillan??"

Ha ha ha! And we did paint him. We painted him in blue and yellow then stood back to let him blend the colors to green. He was so happy. The kids had a great time in the tub afterwards, with the vivid green rinse water.

I respect the desire to be blue. There's a time and place, little guy, time and place.
Respect.