Interesting conversation last night.
We were discussing dissecting children's writing: their spelling, grammar, organization. How easy it is for us, said one friend, to be judgemental, and to forever cast a shadow on our kids' early attempts to write. With our critique, we may destroy any early desire they have to express themselves in writing. We never, she continued, judge their drawing the way we judge their writing.
This struck a chord.
I am a ruthless judge of writing. My expectations are enormous, my disappointment, when they are not met, bitter.
But I have rarely, if ever, criticized either of my kids' artistic efforts. Despite the fact that I was deemed to be a "good artist" myself as a kid, I don't believe I've ever drawn anything that approaches my son's creative skill.
Perhaps because his drawings are freely and universally admired, not only by parents and grandparents (hey, that's easy!), but by other adults outside the family circle, he continues to prolifically produce more and better ones each and every day. He continues to acquire new skills, completely of his own accord, and without any nagging or prodding from us. He has mastered the Paint program, which has always mystified me, without a single word of help or instruction from anyone (click to enlarge, if you like).
Yesterday, he said that when he is stuck for someting to draw, he will make himself draw a line, or a triangle, and then just see what happens. And usually, a picture will come out. I didn't bite my tongue. I asked, why then, when stuck for something to write about, he couldn't just write a simple work and see what will follow?!
Why indeed not! Because I'm hovering over him like a hawk. Oh, it's easy, just write something, for heavens' sake!
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