Painting Crew :: DPP 18

Marriage is funny. Jason and I are extremely compatible, but I am often astounded by how different we are.  Generally speaking, I am more permissive with the boys than Jason is, and I’m specifically thinking of the fact that I tend to let them make more messes or to let them try things that will make a mess. Today, though, as Jason was painting the dining room, I was surprised to hear him offer a paintbrush to our eight-year-old friend who was over and then even more surprised when he said yes to Simon’s request for a “brush like Rev’s.” I don’t think I ever would have let a two-year-old come near that kind of paint. But, as it turns out, I’m so glad Jason did.

Yes, he made a bit of a mess—he splattered some paint on the baseboards and “ruined” a four-dollar Target shirt. Big deal. He had so much fun, and he was so, so, so proud of himself. His (constant) running commentary went something like this: “I big. I have strong muscles. I painting a snowman. I have a big brush. I painting hard. I helping. I big. I painting a snowman. I paint ovah there. My muscles are big. I painting so hard.” It was precious. And now we have a dining room that has a bit of extra drippage behind the piano and maybe on the baseboards, which in my mind makes it pretty much perfect.