It’s taken me two attempts, but I’ve made the realization: You can’t do house painting with little ones.
My first attempt was a few weeks ago when my son and daughter wanted to help me paint the office. I obliged, handing them small paint brushes. But I didn’t just let them go. I should have, but I didn’t. Instead, I reminded them time and time again not to dip the brush too much into the paint, to watch how they swung the brush onto the wall and do try and keep it off their clothes. But when my son accidentally put paint onto an electric outlook I forgot to cover, I loudly yelled his name and “Wait!” He was upset, she was upset. I was called a “mean mommy” (for the 12th time that week) and daddy had to smooth the waters.
I really wanted them to do it with me, but I didn’t prep the area like I should have for little ones (3 and 5) to be involved.
So the next two times I painted, I did it in the late hours of the night when everyone was asleep.
Except for yesterday. Again, hoping to finish the room finally, I took paint to brush in the morning. My daughter came in and talked with me for awhile but finally asked, “Can I help?” After saying “no” several times, I finally relented and gave her a small brush. She actually did great; until coming off the ladder I told her not to get on in the first place she knocked over the paint can. I didn’t yell at all. In fact, I apologized that I had forgotten to put the lid on (there wasn’t much paint left and I did have drop clothes down so no damage done). But my daughter was upset that she had done this and ran from the room.
I told her over and over again it wasn’t her fault, I wasn’t mad and I was sorry I had forgotten to cover it. But she was upset with herself or me or I don’t know what. She cried for several minutes, then finally calmed herself and came back to help me finish.
I think I’ll return to night painting; or putting up paper on an easel next time I try it with the kids.