Three years ago, I painted a toy box for my niece and nephew, basing the designs on some old book illustrations in my collection.

A few years before that I painted a Winnie-the-Pooh illustration (the one with the balloon and the bees) onto a dresser for another niece.
For my very own kid, however, there has been no hand-painting of furniture. I just this weekend went ahead and bought him a toy box with designs already on it, which I'll assemble but otherwise leave unaltered.

I'm trying to decide if this is because 1. I have less creative energy than I had 3 years ago 2. aunthood requires a different kind of doting than motherhood 3. (some) infertile women have weird ways of overcompensating, including going to the moon for their nieces and nephews 4. the pre-decorated toybox is literally too cute to resist, in addition to matching a chair we already have. I suspect it's an aggregate of these reasons. Anyway I feel weird about putting the new toybox together, even though I know Charlie will love it. Hrm.

A few years before that I painted a Winnie-the-Pooh illustration (the one with the balloon and the bees) onto a dresser for another niece.
For my very own kid, however, there has been no hand-painting of furniture. I just this weekend went ahead and bought him a toy box with designs already on it, which I'll assemble but otherwise leave unaltered.

I'm trying to decide if this is because 1. I have less creative energy than I had 3 years ago 2. aunthood requires a different kind of doting than motherhood 3. (some) infertile women have weird ways of overcompensating, including going to the moon for their nieces and nephews 4. the pre-decorated toybox is literally too cute to resist, in addition to matching a chair we already have. I suspect it's an aggregate of these reasons. Anyway I feel weird about putting the new toybox together, even though I know Charlie will love it. Hrm.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 02:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 03:00 am (UTC)That Poohbear toybox is adorable, and Charlie will indeed love it. My parents have reached such an advanced stage of complete lack of understanding of who I am as a human being that my mom is giving me presents reflecting things I liked when I was five. I get a lot of Classic Pooh stuff (the Shepard illustrations and things modelled on them) from her. Luckily, I still love Classic Pooh, so it's always a winner. Thank the gods she stopped buying me clothes.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 04:17 pm (UTC)