My kids haven’t always been face painting snobs. They used to be happy with a heart on the cheek or a small rainbow on the hand. One time we went to the park and there was a birthday party. The children at the party all had their faces painted, many of them like Spiderman. My girls were bummed that they couldn’t get their face painted so I promised them that when we got home, I would try to paint their face like Spiderman. My attempt was not awesome, but they loved it and we got some cute pictures.
Then they met Dixie Magnolia. Dixie is an awesome clown friend of ours and Dixie loves my children. Any time we see Dixie, she makes sure my children’s smiling faces are covered in paint and that their hearts are happy. She has painted rainbows, hearts and swirls. She has transformed my children into everything from princesses to animals. Dixie even practices her face painting on my kids, which is a special treat for them.
Now don’t get me wrong. I love my kids and I love seeing them happy about this activity. I can live with the clean-up since it usually just takes a baby wipe. But the hard part is going someplace where Dixie Magnolia is not painting faces. We went one place where some high school kids were painting. They were doing a decent job but they had no idea what they were up against when it came to my kids. They tried, they really did! But my kids know good face painting when they see it.
It is also a challenge to get my kids to just get something ‘small’. Making them choose one heart, one rainbow, or one basketball is like asking them to choose the smallest piece of candy. It is hard but they endure. Ifit means something small or nothing…something small it is!
On the other hand, if we go someplace and there is a long line for face painting, I can easily talk them out of standing in line. I can remind them that Dixie will paint their face another time and that they are going to miss something else fun by waiting.
Why do I put up with this? We have had lots of fun over the last couple of years getting faces painted. And as the boys get older we will add to the memories. Spending time with my kids is important.
So, why not?