Simple Things That Weren't Always So Simple

One of the 'simple-things' signs that your boy is growing up, that only a mom would recognize or acknowledge... painting model figurines.

It wasn't that long ago that I never would have imagined Nico having the patience or interest in choosing to put together precision model figures from his favorite books and then paint them.  I mean... the gluing, the waiting, the painting, the switching of colors, more waiting, the adjusting of glue and paint... just wasn't really something I'd have ever suggested to Nico. He's done lots of crafts, but it's never about the process, it's always just the finished product that he wanted. 

But, as moms we learn... when they're ready, they let us know.

And he was ready. 

He bought the figures with his own money. He waited for them to come in the mail.  He glued what he needed to glue. He waited for it to dry.  He bought the paint with his own money. And he painted with that teeny-tiny brush. He took his time. He made sure each one was inspected under a magnifying lens. He made corrrections and he waited for more drying.

This is a boy who has always loved making the characters from his favorite books come to life, whether it was toilet-paper roll characters, costumes or just drawing them as best he could and cutting them out and gluing them to clothes pins. So, there's no surprise there. Boy loves his books. But, the meticulous detail and patience that was required for these figures went way beyond anything he's done before. 

And, I'm so proud of him. Best part: He's got this to show for it...

It's the simple things that make me realize he's growing up.