Craft Projects with Mom

 


   Every Thursday I visit my parents. I have a set routine. After a little small talk, Mom and I make cookies, then we prepare lunch, after lunch if weather permits we take a walk and then we work on a craft project. 

   Now that Mom is living upstairs in the memory care section, things are a little different. There's no need to make cookies as often. Mom eats her meals in the dining area and staff comes to take her if she doesn't go by herself. Now that she eats more regularly, she doesn't eat as many cookies.  Dad also doesn't eat as many. Now we bake cookies every other week. 

   The big challenge is finding craft projects for her. A friend was coming over and helping her to paint pictures on canvas, but she has been unable to do so for awhile. Mom and I  worked on a paint by number picture and finished it. I had a large diamond painting kit that was given to me. It was a picture of a grey cat with a butterfly on it's nose. Since I knew Mom enjoyed doing things like this I brought it to her to work on. I would help her to place the "diamonds" in the right spot. We started it this summer and finished it yesterday. I'm relieved. Most of the picture was in various shades of grey and white. It was hard to see letters that indicated what colour was to be used and there was a terrible glare on the canvas from the light we have. However, the finished picture is gorgeous and has an almost three dimensional quality to it. I found a frame for it that I will bring to them on the next visit.

   Now I have to find a new project, something useful because she has a lot of pictures. I got a tie dye kit so we can dye some shirts, but I'd rather save that for a day then it it nice and we can do it on the deck or outside. I found a mug that she could paint and use. I also bought a yarn punch kit thinking that we might be able to decorate clothing with it. I have to learn how to use it first. I found another diamond art kit. This one is coasters with flowers on them. I think she'd like working with bright colours and the projects will be small and not so boring.

   The thing that makes this funny is that Mom was never into crafts before. She used to sew clothes for us when we were younger, that that was to save money, She took up knitting when I was in college as a way to keep her hands busy so she wouldn't snack all the time. As she got older, she got into quilting. I heard that she made a quilt for each or her grandchildren and I have a quilt that she made. Now she enjoys painting and making things. it's fun to watch her concentrate and see how happy she is when we finish a project. I never thought of myself as a creative person, but it turns out I am a little. I'm grateful for this and also that I'm making some good memories with my mom, even if hers don't stay in her head long. 

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