Sometimes i feel that parts of my job are so bitter sweet.
For instance watching a baby/toddler learn, grow and change.... once they 'get' something, there is no going back. That moment in time when they are too small to 'get it' never comes back. Up until last week Ben only came to the art table for the social aspect of it.... you know, to be in the same room as all his friends. Yes he would paint and make creations like everyone else, but it was always about the process.... not the product.
This week, everything changed....
Even after all the other children left the table he sat focused on dipping hie paint brush into the paint to get just the right amount on his brush, make little tiny circular brush stokes on his apple painting before holding it up to show me with a huge "look what i did" expression on his face!
The look of concentration on his face was wonderful... I'm surprised he wasn't drooling!
Part of me was just so proud for him of the amount of creativity, effort and time that he put into his work, but the other part of me sat back and said.... wow, that little baby is gone!
In its place is this little toddler who sits at a big boy chair and doesn't eat the paint!
