Over the weekend I re-watched “Rivers and Tides” a movie about the art of Andy Goldsworthy.
I started thinking about the patience and long term commitment he needs to create these natural, beautiful pieces that are temporary, and time consuming. He doesn’t create these works in a bubble with no environmental or natural occurrences like, lets say, a breeze, rain, snow, etc. This artist is so patient that when nature destroys one of his pieces before he finishes he will simply sigh, drop his hands, and start again.
As a babysitter and an owner of a babysitting placement agency I wish I had that much patience. Then I thought of the patience it takes to raise a child as a parent. Picking and choosing, like the color of leaves the varied size of ice, the exactness in which choices are made to create are so much more important as a parent and the development of children.
When something goes wrong with our children we, too, sigh and return to the task at hand. There is absolutely no giving up when you are a parent. We find the correct medium to help our children to succeed. We research the best disciplines to apply so our children will understand consequences when choices aren’t terrific. We want to do the best for our children as did our own parents, whether we believe it or not.
As with artists; we can understand the idea of creation but we have to believe in ourselves. No book, advice can help us create the brilliant children we have.
We get to choose the best course of action for creating these beautiful creatures we call our children. And just as great artists, we can have help to create the best children we can. We have teachers, babysitters, nannies, aunts, uncles, grandparents that all want the best for our children, but you are the artist and designer, and you dictate how these assistants carry out our design.
Parents are the greatest artists, and babysitters, nannies, teachers, and relatives have the most important job of support. I’m so proud to offer parents assistance in their creations but I always have to remind myself that they are in charge not me.
