How It All Started

Several years ago, I went home to visit my mom and dad at Christmas time. We eagerly awaited the arrival of my brother, his wife, and my niece, who was two years old at the time. First, they had a family Christmas at their house at 6:00 am. At 6:45 am, they left for my sister-in-laws parents house, where unwrapping presents can only be described as a racous noise complete with paper flying and arms flailing. At 10:00 am, they arrived at my childhood home, stopped long enough to eat the breakfast my mom had made, and then we started opening the presents. I was probably 26 years old or so at the time. This Christmas was particularly exciting as it was the first Christmas that my niece was excited about. She proudly told us it was "...baby Jesus birt-day". We each took turns unwrapping our presents, and waitied with much anticipation as my niece opened up her first gift. She smiled politely, but didn't seem too interested in her new toy. When she opened her second gift, she seemed even less excited. We were puzzled, maybe she didn't really understand the concept of presents. When it was her turn to open up her third present, a glassy look came over he face, like a deer in head lights. She suddenly stood up and said "I NEED to color!" in a slightly panicked voice. My sister-in-law gently asked if she wanted to open her present. She emphatically shook her head no, looked even more panicked and stated "I NEED to COLOR!". It was clear to us that she was completely overhwelmed by the morning's events, and was in need of a break. We gave her crayons and a coloring book and she sat, contentedly, beside us coloring away for a good thirty minutes or so. An hour later, she was ready to open more presents.

Ever since then, whenever someone in the family is feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated we simply say "I need to color", and everyone understands. For me, coloring is crafting of some sort - usually whatever the latest thing is. Sewing and papercrafting have always been my fall backs, and sometimes, I just sit with my own kids, and we color together. My husband likes to play video games when he wants to color, and my kids like to do...well, kid things - especially the kind that get them our of chores!

"Coloring" is different for everyone. We all have some sort of coping strategy than enables us to get through the tough moments of our days and lives. "Coloring" is therapeutic, and it is essential to a healthy and happy life.

I started this blog for all the people out there who need to color and to share the stories of my daily life that lead up to my need to color. Along the way, I'll share my adventures in crafting when I am feeling brave or particularly proud of a piece. But in the meantime, I'm off to color. Good day to all!