embracing imperfection
Things aren’t really going the way I had planned this holiday season. By now I was supposed to have ordered and addressed the Christmas cards, oh- and taken a picture for the Christmas cards, bought and wrapped all the gifts, had a big holiday party for all my lady friends, and taken my kids to see Santa, among other things. So far- some gifts, no picture (particularly after the lady at the kids hair cut place just gave my son a mullet), no card, no Santa, and definitely no party.
I also have a long list of craft projects I was/am determined to do this Christmas. After seeing this wreath last year, I bought a ton of felt balls (from here). I actually attempted to make the wreath in late October (!) but quickly realized that it would take at least $100 worth of felt balls to complete the wreath of my dreams. I decided to let that one go, and use the felt balls for garlands for our kids’ tree. (Yes, I’ve already seen the ones floating around the blogosphere, but I swear- it seemed a somewhat original idea at the time).
One of the other Christmas crafts I had on my to-do list was to make a ‘surprise ball’ for my son to open on Christmas Eve. (There are many tutorials out there, but I found the most helpful one here). My take on the surprise ball was going to be deemed ‘the snowball surprise.’ The balls will be full of colorful surprises (and in my son’s case, all yellow), but the outside will be white, in the guise of a snowball.
If you follow my blog and pay attention, you’ll know my son is completely obsessed with lions and the color yellow. So I’ve spent months collecting tiny yellow and lion items for the surprise ball. I got the impression from the various tutorials that if I started out with a round object, my surprise ball would turn out round. Wrong. I’ve ended up with a misshapen lump. When I asked my mom what she thought I could do to fix it, she said, ‘snowballs aren’t perfectly round, are they?’ When I was unsatisfied with her answer, she suggested using cotton batting. Then my not-crafty-at-all husband wanted to wrap it with a washcloth. Then I thought maybe I should try to make it look like a lion with additional yellow crepe paper. But I eventually determined to let it go.
Instead of letting all of this stress me out this year, I’m trying to embrace it. Trying. I don’t want my kids to remember how stressed I get at Christmas time. I want them to look back and think that was fun. Or maybe even better – she was fun. So I’m focusing on the things I have done right and not the things I haven’t. Snowballs aren’t perfectly round, anyway.
p.s. I’m also totally in love with our kids tree in the playroom, above.
You most definitely SHOULD be in love with that tree. And I know the title of your post referenced imperfection, but it is most decidedly a perfect tree.
Oh, you smart, smart woman. I remember far too many stressed-parent (OK, who-are-we-kidding, stressed-MOM) holidays. She finally gets that we’d rather have a happy mom than elaborate bows on the gifts. If we don’t want to raise kids who can only see the imperfections in their creative endeavors, we can’t model that kind of perfectionism. I love that your mom still sees the charm in what her daughter creates, even when it’s “imperfect.” But, I agree with Debbie; the tree looks perfect to me!
i’m in love with imperfection, which at times can look like utter perfection — which is what i see here. and i’m also in love with the effort and thoughtfulness behind your snowball surprise. i know your son will remember this gift forever.
happy holidays. it will be perfectly imperfect. enjoy!
xoh
Holidays are so hard for the ex-Martha Stewarters. Having kids kind of makes you embrace the imperfections in everything, and that can be hard for people like us! I love your snowball surprise balls.. I’ve helped my mom make hers before and they often look like that. I think if you just add a few more layers it will help even it out, you have to kind of pull and stretch the crepe paper as you go. They never look totally perfect though.. When he opens it up layer by layer and sees all the fun surprises you’ve hidden inside, you will forget all about your lumpy snowball. I promise.
Yes, I keep thinking I will be a wonderful grandmother when I actually have the time to do all of the projects that are floating in my mind… On a side note, where did you get the basket that the tree is in? Is the tree in a bucket or a stand inside the basket?
It is a struggle. I have decided to save my crafting for after Christmas. I am going to make my fun wreaths for next year. I also love the idea of doing a Valentines Card. I don’t think I’ll be getting around to either. hang in there!
I love, love, love your tree AND your spirit of fun! I made Christmas cards as gifts for lots of people this year and let go of some of the minor imperfections that I realized they probably won’t see. What delight we all got! Keep your heart open to that element of fun. You are right. That’s what your kids will cherish, and so will you:)