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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.
