All So Different

In this little activity, I saw my kids personalities and insecurities come out in full force - a simple Easter Egg activity with a wide range of emotions, expectations, and outcomes.

Afton had a plan from the beginning. She knew exactly what she wanted to do. She is quite the perfectionist and always gets frustrated with the slightest deviation from her original plan. If the paint was too thick, it was a catastrophe. If it is was too thin, there was a groan of disapproval. Actual phrases that came out of her mouth, "This is just the worst. Why do things have to be so hard for me? That's it. It is ruined." THIS is not typical of her behavior because she usually has confidence for days and knows that she can do anything she wants to.

Jack has very little confidence on most days. He is tender and sensitive and gets upset when something is new or challenging. I am very worried about this, as I want him to know of his true potential. He is a very smart and creative boy, but he doesn't always remember that. However, he approached this activity with a great attitude. He didn't have a plan, but he liked how his egg turned out in the end. "I got out of the lines a little bit and that is okay. I know I tried my best." I must say this about my Jack boy. He could tell that I was frustrated/shocked by Afton's defeated attitude. Since he is such a peacemaker, he was trying to help Afton by saying positive things. He also was trying to make me not want to pull my hair out. "My paint dried nicely, so now I'll paint a shark on it. Well, that doesn't look anything like a shark, so maybe it can be a whale. Or a lion. I don't care, it just looks like a nice design, huh Mom?"

Both of my big children had total role reversals during this Easter Egg activity. I was flabbergasted.

Then Jocelyn. She held true to her personality. She is a wild free spirit. I know she is only 2, and can't be expected to stay within the lines, but honestly, I doubt she ever will. She will be my creative, outside-of-the-box thinker, unconfined, independent, footloose and fancy-free child. She will do what she wants, when she wants, and could care less what anybody thinks of her.

I love them all so much. I am thankful to be their mom, but I just wish they came with an instruction manual. One that has a chapter of reading about how to raise the perfectionist child, a chapter on the meek and timid child, and a chapter on the eccentric radical child. I need to know how to mother them all the exact way that they need to be mothered so that they know they are special, just the way they are. So that they know they are loved no matter what, and that they can and will accomplish great things.

Great things like these Easter eggs that are all so different.