Poll: Are you a member of the Moms are No-Fun Club?

[Gwen in TX]

Way back when the first WTM boards started, we (those of us challenged by creativity, time, lack of interest or whatever) started a Moms are No-Fun Club. I actually came here to post the very first time my son made a diorama -- what had I started? It was the first and only crafty thing he did for school.

The other members of the MNFC told me I had asked for it, by having a craft basket in our school room. (It had construction paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, a roll of string, some popsicle sticks, and balloons -- which I am PROUD to say the original packages of most of those things are still sitting in the basket 8 years later!!)

[TCoppock]

I'm not quite sure where I fit in. I do attempt at times to be crafty but it seems like time is not on my side. We have a box of Christmas ornaments to make still sealed amongst other things. I have great intentions but never the follow through so I guess that would make me no fun. Maybe I redeemed myself by putting him into art class in our Co-op group.

OK I just asked my son if he thinks I'm fun and he says, "Of course your fun!" :D I guess those fun classes paid off. heheheehe

[ncmomo3]

I wouldn't if I weren't forced into it. (*eyeroll*)

[Jean in Newcastle]

my kids are not. I have tubs (yes, big rubbermaid tubs) full of "recycled" items. I have string, glitter glue, felt, stickers, you name it in our "art and science" closet. My solution: let the kids have at it! (I stay out of it.) Except for the nagging them to clean it all up part. And the "what do I do now with this lovely pie-plate sculpture" part.:eek:

[sdWTMer]

I just don't do it! My eldest son, Sherlock, would rather play the piano whilst the younger one, CamoKid, would rather be into playdough, cutting & pasting, coloring. They're definitely different, yet the same! :D

[Amy in Orlando]

LOL - I confess, I'm a crafty mom. I love making messes and doing projects. Do I think they're essential, probably not. If I hated doing that kind of stuff, I just wouldn't do it - it wouldn't be fun for anyone.

[Mekanamom]

My rule is that the kids can do crafts and make messes if they clean it up so thoroughly when they're done, that I can't tell they ever got that crafty stuff out. ;)

They're pretty good about it. I don't often get involved.

Maybe I'm a no-fun mom of fun kids?

I do some of those craft kits with the kids... those self contained types of things that can be easily put away... I have my knitting and they do latch hook, or loom knitting, or beading. But that's usually for relaxing after school, not for school. Does that count?

[Lorna in the boonies]

Very definitely a member! While I like the idea in theory, the reality is that I can't stand to do crafty sorts of things.

My oldest is old enough now to manage this area of our lives without me, and she loves spearheading it. As long as I keep her supplied with the goods, she takes care of the rest of it. This is a very good thing.:o (That is me, sighing contentedly.)

[ArwenA]

I never really knew I was a member of the Mom are No-Fun Club, but it sounds like me!:)
My eldest isn't overly crafty but my younger two, they are craft maniacs!!!:D It utterly exhausts me, sure once in a while crafts are fun. But 24/7? Not for me!

[Gwen in TX]

Any more responses?

[Tammyla]

Oh, go ahead and enjoy some of those messes.;) One of these days you'll have big kids - the house will be clean & they'll be doing their own thing. Enjoy the littles:D. I think some moms over think the crafty projects. Kids enjoy simply being creative.:) Oh, and to save your sanity, find the best place for the creative messes. My kids knew the kitchen table was the place to let it all hang out~:eek:

[WTMindy]

I'm sort of in-between. I'm a structured project mom. I like to do a project that goes along with our history studies, but I'm not an artistic free-spirit.

[Tea Party Girl]

Wait a minute, to be fun I have to be crafty? If I have to be a CRAFTY fun mom, I vote life-long member and proud of it.

All "crafts" are definitely child-lead around here. If they want any help, they need to ask Grandma.

[Sparkle]

Truthfully, I am not crafty at all. My kids however enjoy crafts and will usually come up with things to do on their own. We keep plenty of art supplies, Play-doh, Sculpey, etc around and the kids do their own thing.

I've been forced to be a little more crafty though because of being a 4-H leader with the little kids, so I do put together a craft every month for the group to do. It's actually pretty fun.

[Sharon H in IL]

Card-carrying member. :D

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

::::Groan::::

First we have to locate all the stupid art supplies that are supposed to be organized in the cabinet but never are when we need them. Then we have to locate paper to cover the table. When we don't need paper, it's everywhere, but as soon as we start an art project all the paper scampers into boxes or behind furniture or wherever paper likes to hide. The middle guys get set up to do the art project, the 2yo decides to help, and the big guys' attention is drawn to whatever we're doing, so they're distracted and not doing what they are supposed to be focusing on. Someone turns over water or squirts paint on a favorite shirt. They are not careful artists. They like quantity over quality, so we have 4-5-6 art projects per kid within 20 minutes. Now kids begin drifting off with excuses and trying to get them all back to clean up the god-awful mess is like herding cats. There will be teeny tiny pieces of paper turning up on barefeet for the next 3-4 days.

Anything that take 3 times as long to set up and clean up as it does for the actual activity is banned from our house. Put me on the payment plan for the lifetime membership.

Barb

[gardenschooler]

I like doing projects and the like, but ours are usually pretty pathetic, compared to some I see on people's blogs.

[Patty Joanna]

How about, I am but I wish I weren't. You forgot E. None of the above. (grin)

[angela in ohio]

Thank you for thinking of that second category. That's me! :D

[TeaTotaler]

Another vote for E.

[Gwen in TX]

:

[Gwen in TX]

I misunderstood what you were saying. I get it now!