The S.O.W. is back! And in full force. Every time I turn around there is more evidence of her striking and wreaking havoc on my walls, chairs, floor, tub, tables, etc…Yes the Scribbler of Walls is back. This has been a long standing issue in our home since about kid #4. That would be my now 16 year old Joe.
With Joe it was easy to spot his art work because he would very proudly sign it with his name spelled like OLE and the E would have way too many appendages and would extend the length of the wall or garage door, as we so lovingly remember.
Unfortunately this particular art work was usually done with a black Sharpie marker. The art work was the typical head, with really big and disproportionate eyes, and arms that came out of the ears. The arms would also extended the length of the garage door. I loved this very much, and would giggle when ever we pulled up to the house. The really funny part was when we would confront Joe on his masterpieces. He would quickly point a finger at his brother Levi. We of course, thought it was very clever of Levi to vandalize our home and sign Joe’s name, to frame him.
This 2 year old, you have to understand, is very clever. She never gets caught. She lies in wait for any unsuspecting person to leave any sort of art medium out in the open for her to quickly snatch. (Her recent art work included the wonderful medium of red fingernail polish, and brand new mascara.) She then goes to work on any clean space, on a wall, table, floor, her legs, any canvas she deems appropriate. I am sure that she stakes these out before she goes to work.
Fortunately for our new home, I won the battle of “child-resistant walls” 4-years ago when I convinced Bobby to use Val-Spar’s semi-gloss paint. It cleans up very well and also covers completely. (I wonder how it does with black Sharpie markers?) These markers have been banned from our house as long as there is a 1-4 year old living here. It’s funny how something as wonderful and good as a marker would be banned from being used in a home. Only those with 2 year olds and older children can understand where I come from on this very important issue.
Maybe I should call Val-Spar and ask them to team up with a carpeting company and invent a marker-resistant carpet. I am sure that it would sell like crazy.
Of course my children have carried this artistic talent with them well into their education and careers. Their art work is now being displayed at Bobby Schilling Campaign headquarters and we also have an art room that is covered with their work.
I have to thank their wonderful art teacher Mary Heiar. She has found a way to channel the talent they have and make it into beautiful works of art. She has also shown them the proper mediums to use and the appropriate canvases. Thank you Mrs. Heiar!