Confessions of a Craft Mom Wannabe


By Kate Hayes

I am a mom who is good at certain things. Besides just general “mommyness,” my areas of expertise include reading, exploring new places, enjoying nature, and learning. Point to any state on the United States map, and my 5-year-old daughter could tell you what it is and something about it. The other day, she unscrambled the states, “New York,” “New Jersey,” and “Tennessee,” within seconds of looking at the jumbled-up letters. When I asked her how she knew Tennessee so quickly, she gave me a great big Duh look. “Well, Mom, there were so many E’s in it!” That’s my girl. I impart logic…not craftiness.
I am, however, a craft mom wannabe. After years of pretending, I have finally admitted to myself that being artsy and making cute crafts (or even cupcakes) with my kids is an area where I fail. Other moms know exactly what to do with empty egg cartons and green pipe cleaners. Me…not so much.

It is certainly not for lack of aspiring to be crafty. I have about ten books at home full of fun craft ideas and recipes and things to do with preschoolers on a rainy day. I have been collecting them since I was in high school…a good ten years before my oldest child was even born. But have I ever actually opened one on a rainy day and done one of those ever-so-creative activities? Sadly, no.

What’s even more sad is that I really LOVE to read all of the crafty ideas in parenting magazines, like “FamilyFun” or “Cookie” or “Parent and Child.” I subscribe to these magazines, and always think that someday I might make those piggy pencil holders or that choo-choo train cake with the kids. And then, I refuse to throw out the magazines…just in case. This kind of thing drives my husband crazy. I guess I can understand why. Five years’ worth of parenting magazines saved for crafty tidbits that will probably never actually be tried IS a little ridiculous.

Right before our recent cross-country move (“do or die” time), I came up with a creative solution. First, I went through all those old magazines and tore out any pages containing crafts, recipes, and other ideas that I wanted to remember. Then, I got myself a sturdy binder, a hole puncher, and a big stack of organizer tabs. I sorted all of those wonderful crafty ideas into sections that I thought might inspire me the most…like by seasons and holidays (when I tend to feel the “almost crafty-est”). I also have sections for travel ideas and other articles that I want to refer back to. And I gave it a nicely labeled name: “My Big Book of Borrowed Ideas.”

Now the piles of magazines are gone, and “My Big Book of Borrowed Ideas” is right there on the shelf next to my other idea books, waiting for the day when Mommy’s craftiness finally kicks in (and we have the right amount of empty milk jugs at just the right time). I feel pretty proud of myself…because in a way, making the binder was kind of like a craft in itself, right? Right?
My poor kids. Anyone want to teach them how to make a puppet out of a sock?