Like every kid after Christmas, mine had their gift-cards burning hot little holes in their pockets. While Jeffrey opted for frugality and handed his money off to me for safe-keeping (first time ever! guess he’s growing up *sniff*), and Abby picked up an RC helicopter to go with her American Girl doll (of course), Bean went all-in with a lime green bean bag chair and a West Virginia college football helmet. And yes, he carried the giant bean bag everywhere in the store, and now drags it from room to room in our home.
Like so many American households with daughters, we now have joined the cult of AG-dom. This is cute and sweet and all, and as long as I don’t have to go into that nightmare of a two-story AG Doll store at Tyson’s, I can totally live with her new obsession.
Jeffrey asked me the other day if it was weird for a boy to like to sew. Nope, I lied. And with that, he got out his paper and drew this idea, commandeered some kitchen towels and felt, learned how to thread a needle and tie a loop knot (from his mama) and proceeded to spend two days making this piece of awesomeness. You know what I love most? The look of genuine pride and happiness radiating from his smiling face. I love this man-child, and will tell him little lies about social perception as long as I can, so he can continue to figure out what HE loves, not what anyone else thinks he should.
Just look at the joy as that boy examines his hulking smashing fists. Thanks, Santa. At least some things are simple still, eh?
As for me, well… I’m glad the holidays are over. Per normal, Christmas was packed, loaded and done by close of business on the 26th. I love me some decorations, but when the fat lady has sung, it’s time to pack up and head out. Starting the new year just feels fresher and better if the dregs of the holidays are not trailing into the bright shiny dawn of January 1. Don’t get me wrong- I know there is no starting over, and I avoid resolutions that inevitably come crashing down, but there is something nice about spare walls and clean surfaces after all the glitter and excess of December. January comes like clean, fresh snow. It’s nice. While it lasts.
Happy 2013 to all my friends and loved ones.
Dandelion Mama 
Tracy, when I was five, I asked my parents to buy me a sewing kit for my hospital stay (hernia surgery). I don’t remember my parents saying anything about social norms, only that they bought the sewing kit and a Donny and Marie magic set that I had also requested. Today, I am left to wonder which item was stranger for a five-year-old boy to have. I think I am leaning toward the Donny and Marie magic set.
Brian, your parents were awesome. That is all.
It’s not weird for a boy to like to sew if that is the result. Pure awesomeness indeed. I’m very impressed. He seems to have inherited some of your talent.
Yeah Kev- I love that he used his talent in his own way, too. He’s not trying to make something typical sewn, but he drew his own idea, and made a MONSTER. It’s so cool!
Happy New Year! Ok…so I LOVE the towel creature Jeffrey made and I think if you could get him to make more, you could totally sell them on an Etsy site…because I would buy one in a heartbeat for my kidlet…he would LOVE this!! And I for one think it is cool for Him to want to sew
Maybe I’ll turn his drawing into a pattern pdf that other kids could make… (thanks Jen!)
My husband loves to sew. So does my friend Wendell–in fact, he teaches it and does quilting for people. He uses one of those huge industrial machines that cost like $10K. And if that’s not cool, I don’t know what is!
Jeffrey’s face (and creation) made ME smile, and I’ve never even met the kid. How awesome. And yes… January should enter on a clean slate. I’m still in post-Christmas purge mode. But that could be from the three episodes of Hoarders I watched too.
Just saying — from my corner of the world of social perception, Jeffery and that First Sewing Project are spectacularly awesome. My husband redlines the meter on manliness (hard core mountaineering, climbing, etc) and he taught himself to sew on his mom’s machine as a teenager. He still does all his own mending and patching, unless he can persuade me to take it on.
Also, it’s a blessed relief to be done with the holidays.
Jeffrey is in good company.
Two words. Ralph Lauren and tons of other designers that are men. Great picture and project. (My son is 35 and plays the flute professionally. When he was in grade school and middle school he heard a lot of flak for being a boy playing the flute…until they heard him play.)
Karen, I told him about Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, and Saville Row Bespoke suiting. His response: “cool.”
I LOVE that Jeffrey enjoys sewing – and that you, as his mama, are encouraging him to discover what HE loves to do! I wouldn’t expect anything less though! Love his creation.
I tried this year – I really did – we had a guest here and I thought we could keep the decorations up until she left. However, come the 28th (our anniversary and when they are usually down by) they had to go. There is something “fresh” about starting the new year clean. I love Christmas decorations, but they have to go! i went so far, New Years, as to declutter the whole house! 🙂 Such is life…
Love and miss you! All of you…
My friend Julie Rohal posts about her sons and their 4H sewing projects all the time. Their dad sews much better than I do. Julie’s blog is private, I think, but you might be able to contact her through FB if you want Jeffrey to have some ‘male’ support for his new hobby. I love your blog; I am uplifted everytime I read it.
Thank you, Nora Ray. 🙂
http://www.eternallyhappy.blogspot.com
My boys sew too.
It reminds me of the episode of Duck Dynasty where the women are trying to sew aprons (and failing spectacularly) and Uncle Si comes in and sews the cutest apron, complete with ruffles.