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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

I like Van Gogh

I remember when I was in the throes of babies and toddlers, someone said it was important to keep your own identity apart from being a caregiver.  They said you should be enjoying and learning about new books, art, fashion, music, etc.  I clearly remember thinking about this as I was getting my kids settled into a toddler-friendly HEB cart, while they were kicking and fighting.  I thought, "I don't care about anything else but just GETTING SOME GROCERIES!!!  How can I possibly have any other interests or the emotional wherewithal to even consider anything, but surviving with 4 young children under the age of 7."   Still, I felt guilty that for awhile there, absolutely everything revolved around taking care of my children, and I wasn't even that good at it.  I told myself that one day, I would have time to pursue other interests.  Surely, one day.

Well, one day is here!  While I still feel pretty busy with the kids, I do have more emotional and mental energy left at the end of the day.  When Stuart and I went to Spain in November, I fell in love with the life, natural forms, and colors Gaudi used in his creations, be it art or architecture.  This year at CCI, we've been learning about modern art and painters, and I must say that I think the pointillism Seurat used is incredible!  I also love the impressionism of Monet, but most of all I appreciate the simple colors, the use of light, and the energetic life and lines in the paintings of Van Gogh!  

Whenever I would doubt if I should be putting so much time and energy into my kids back in the early years, for some reason, I would always think about this quote by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis : "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much."  I figured it Mrs. Camelot herself could place the priority on her children, I could, too.  I'm glad I did, but honestly, I think most moms are can't help but be the same way.  Yes, there is time to recapture what you personally like or enjoy, later.  

I like Van Gogh.  :)
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 10:17 AM

    I like Van Gogh, too! And Seurat and other "moderns," especially Matisse and Kandinsky. And right now I'm in that stage of only having time for my child, but I'm trying to "balance" what I can. Thanks for the affirmation that there will be more "me" time in the future. : )

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    1. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:58 AM

      Last night on a date with Stuart, I was talking to him quite a bit about Van Gogh, Seurat, Matisse, and Picasso. He asked, "Didn't you learn about these artists four years ago when Katherine and Jonathan went through this at CCI? I told him they worked pretty independently,esp with humanities homework, so I didn't really learn about all that they were learning about. However, since my child with dyslexia requires more of my assistance, I am more involved, and I'm learning more! That's when it dawned on me that we learn so much about the world around us and ourselves BECAUSE of the needs of our children, not necessarily despite them. :)

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