Proud Mama, Four Words

This is a story about the power that we all have. The power that we have inside. The power of following our bliss. The power we have to support one another. You have to go back just a mere ten weeks ago. I could mark the exact date & time, if I had a calendar in front of me. It was the Saturday of GCAC's annual mega-whopping arts festival. Down in the museum district. Overcast skies. The three of us set out on an adventure, leaving Scott behind to tend the tribe and Allen always game to chauffeur..... Sarah & I were out for some fresh air with inspiration.

We were going booth to booth when we became particularly enamoured with one artist's bright, cheery paintings. The coloration captured my attention, the subject hers. They were all fuschia, Granny Smith apple green and kerpow cherry colored dogs & cats. Some with polka dots, others with stripes, all my favorite graphic details, as I recall. Anyhow, I turned to my daughter and said four words. Four words with sincerity. I quite genuinely said, "You could do that."

She stood there stammering her disbelief over my assessment. We went on about our morning of exploring, but kept coming back to those four simple words. She kept denying the possibility. I continued to reiterate that I knew she was capable. Well that weekend continued to unfold & I told her I was willing to put my money where my mouth was..... and the two of us went off on a field trip to JoAnn Fabrics. I bought her paints, brushes and some canvas -- a belated Mother's Day present and a launch.

Anyhow, that's the back-story & I'm claiming all sorts of credit for her renaissance. In the ten weeks since this interaction, she has gone on to paint dozens of paintings. The more amazing thing is that she has followed the family entrepreneuralism and she's sold lots & lots of her creations. Already! She's taking commissions for her friends nurseries and living rooms.

If you have need of a gift, you'd better ask her sooner rather than later...... she's still VERY affordable currently, but at some point she'll have to start raising those prices. This is the perfect connection of her creativity to her need & desire to contribute to her family's finances as a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom.) Their first born, my WonderBoy, is likely to benefit from a variety of support & therapy opportunities. Sarah's painting commissions have already enabled them in getting WonderBoy into some ongoing equine therapy. [Now granted I think being near the horses is just as much a benefit to Sarah, as to her son, but she swears it's primarily for his development.]

What a joy that four simple words have launched an entire emerging artist. Knowing my JoyJoy, she'll have whole whirlwinds sprout from her efforts before I get my next project launched. She has very few available minutes at her disposal so she's got to leap into these paintings. And what leaps she has taken.

Who could you give your four words of support? Who would benefit from knowing that you believe in them? What if we all supported one another's capabilities? Unconditionally? What if we put our money where our mouths are? How can we delve deep inside and pull out what is uniquely our very own? How do we assure that all of our children have the opportunity to develop their own talents and potential to it's very zenith? What are we waiting for? It does indeed take a planet.... and sometimes it just takes four words and a fieldtrip.