Kristen Anne Glover

Five in Tow

Organizing the Boy

My son is a pack rat.  He saves everything from bits of broken pencil lead to rubber bands to dried flower blossoms.  Recently, we moved him into his own room, and in the process, we purged a large portion of his collection.  By we, I mean I, while he whined and gave me lots of reasons why that broken plastic fork needed to be moved to his new room.

While I wanted to throw away all the bent nails while he was sleeping, being a parent is all about compromise, so I thought about what I could do to make both of us happy.  I wanted a neat, tidy room with a spot for everything.  He wanted to keep all of his treasures.

One day, as I was walking through the garage, I spotted a solution.  My husband had a leftover piece of pegboard from a workbench project.  It was the perfect way for him to display some of his favorite “treasures” without leaving them all over the top of his dresser in one giant heap.

 

The finished product!

One of the edges was damaged, so my husband cut it down for me.  I painted it with some heavy-duty grey porch paint we had on hand.  Painting it was a necessity–it gave the board a finished, almost artistic look which is great because it’s now the focal point of the wall. I would love to make an interesting display out of it, but then my son wouldn’t have any place for his stuff and we’d be back to square one.  But if anyone ever wants to make a giant Battleship headboard, this would be the way to go!

While the paint dried, the boy and I ran to the hardware store and purchased a bunch of hooks, baskets, and other accessories for his board.  I wanted a magnetic strip for the top and bottom, but couldn’t find one so I bought two metal rulers and hot glued them to the painted pegboard.  A couple of magnets, some with clips, allow him to hang up art or other keepsakes.  My husband donated a magnetic knife holder so Jonathan can hang up his pocket knives, but it’s a little too heavy so I’m going to keep looking for a simple strip.  We need to add a few more hooks and some magnetic spice jars for things like nails, but for now, it’s done.  What do you think?

The Pegboard

It will never look this neat again.

 

Easy Art for Large Walls

I bought the wrong green.

We were in the middle of carpeting our downstairs rec room, which we use as a bedroom for the younger kids.   The previous green was too institutional.  It reminded me of hospital scrubs or cheap mint ice cream.  I felt queasy just looking at it.

I was thrilled when my husband told me I should paint the room before our new carpet arrived.  I headed to Home Depot, determined not to repeat the same mistake.  I would choose a richer, darker green, and we would live happily ever after.

But the green I picked in the store was not the green I brushed on the wall.  I gasped when I saw that first stroke.  It was darker.  Waaaaaay darker.  And richer.  Like mud.  It was the wrong green.  But we didn’t have time to fix it.  The carpet was coming and the paint had to be on the walls first.  The first coat went up, and I hoped I would like it better after the second.  But I didn’t.  I hated it.

I spent the next couple days standing in the empty room, alternately crying and brainstorming how to fix it.  The room looked like a cave, not a whimsical child’s room.  Could I put a lighter glaze over it?  Attempt some kind of faux finish?  Both of those options were risky.  Then one night, an idea came to me.  I’d paint giant silhouettes on the wall with some paint I already had on hand.   It was a free solution with many benefits: it would draw the eye away from the awful green, lighten the room, and decorate the bare walls all in one shot.  Here’s what I did.

Kya's shadow made into art

First, I had my five-year-old stand in front of a lamp so I could project her shadow onto the wall.  I quickly outlined her with a white colored pencil, then simply filled in the outline with beige wall paint.  It took several coats to cover the swamp green.  I drew the dandelion freehand, which is probably why it looks like a 4th of July Sparkler, but I didn’t have a dandelion and I wanted to have the effect of the fuzz blowing over the bunk bed, as if carried on the wind.

Next, I painted Faith up against the steps, reading a book.  I used the same technique: I had her sit in front of a lamp until I got the shadow where I wanted it.  I traced it quickly and filled it in with paint.  So simple.

Faith's silhouette

After I drew Faith, I decided I wanted her leaning against a tree, so I painted a tree on the wall freehand.   I didn’t sketch it out first, but you certainly could, or project a branch on the wall if you’re nervous about it.  I added leaves, and a little J+K heart detail for my sweetie.  After looking at it, I thought the whole thing could use a little color, so I painted a couple more leaves in a lime green.  I didn’t want too many, because I wanted to keep the shadow effect, but a little color is nice.  Here’s another shot to show you how BIG it is!  What a great way to cover a lot of empty space.

A tree grows in the rec room

I also added some butterflies, snails, and toadstools around the room.  Maybe I’ll even paint an owl.

A snail for Faith

Then, I found the sweetest sheer curtains at World Market.  They look like they were made for the room, and they were on sale!  I had to buy them.

Curtain detail

The furniture in the room was old and mismatched, so we moved my great-grandmother’s lowboy dresser downstairs.  I love the look of it in the room, even without its mirror.

Another view of the room

On the very left of the picture above,  you can see the edge of the frame of a watercolor done by another great-grandma nearly 100 years ago.  The colors are perfect for the room, as is the charm.  She picked great greens (unlike me).

Watercolor, done by my great-grandma Barnhill, 1925

The other wall was really dark because it has no windows, so I painted an abstract of flowers for a pop of color.  It didn’t turn out quite the way I hoped, but it still works.  I hung it over a dresser I found on craigslist for $25.  The basket-weave adds to the “picnic” feel of the room, and goes with the antique dresser.  We also have lots of kids’ books to display!

Here’s another perspective to show the scale of the shadow art.  It’s about 1/3 bigger than the real child.

We’d love to trade that bright blue bunk bed for a wooden one, but for now, it’s functional for our big family, even if it doesn’t quite work with the theme of the room.  If you look closely, you can see the dandelion fluff blowing over the bed.

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed...

All in all, I am happy with the way the room turned out, given the color mistake!

What do you think?  Are you ready to try shadow art on your big walls?

I Know Why You Had Kids

This is a post written out of anger, anger about the abuse that happens to children in this county and around the world.  It is written from the perspective of an abused child, a truly abused child.  It is not meant to be a condemnation of good parents who sometimes have a bad day.  It is meant to capture the voice of a child who cannot speak for herself, and what she might say to the parents who do not protect, defend, and cherish her, when she’s old enough to realize that they should.

 

I Know Why You Had Kids

I know why you had kids.

You had kids so you could be bigger than someone.

Stronger than someone.

Louder than someone.

You had kids because you had something to prove.

What does making babies prove?

I know why you had kids.

You had kids because you could.

You didn’t think about if you should.

And now you’re mad because you have to.

I wasn’t there when you made the decision

But somehow, it’s all my fault.

I know why you had kids.

You had kids so you could yell when you’re angry.

So everyone knows how bad I am,

And how hard you have it.

It feels good to say shut-up when you’re angry.

But it doesn’t feel good to hear it.

I know why you had kids.

You had kids because it was easy.

Now you say you don’t know how to do this.

But I didn’t know how to walk, and I learned.

I didn’t know how to talk, but I learned.

I didn’t know how to fight back, but I learned.

I know why you had kids.

You had kids because you wanted a pet, a toy.

You thought you could pick me up,

And put me down whenever you wanted.

You didn’t know I would still be there,

When you didn’t feel like it anymore.

I know why you had kids.

You had kids because you thought he’d stay.

Thought he’d love you now.

Or give you some attention.

All you wanted was some attention.

But he’s gone and all you have is me.

I know why you had kids.

You wanted something you’d never gotten,

Something you couldn’t give.

You wanted someone to love you,

All the time.

I wish I didn’t love you all the time.

I know why you had kids.

And it didn’t turn out like you thought.

But maybe it can.  Maybe you can step up.

Grow up.  Give up yourself.

Be the kind of parent you need to be,

So I don’t become the kind of person you are.