‘Twas the morning of another project, when all thro’ the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that a new costume was soon to be prepared.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While mom had hot glue stuck to her fingers and was banging her head….
Declan and I stood at the stove, cardboard, felt, and a glue gun between us.
“Declan, how do you come up with all these projects?”
Declan looked and me and stated plainly, “Because I am crafty.”
“Well, if you are crafty, why don’t YOU do the project?”
Declan looked down at my fingers. Trails of melted, now dry, glue from the hot glue gun protruded from each of my fingertips, giving me the fingernails of an evil sorcerer.
“Because I don’t want to burn my fingers with the hot glue. It would hurt me.”
I thought of all the “Owie, owie, owie, OW’s!” I had been yelping all morning and replied, “It doesn’t hurt that bad.”
In truth, I do not think I can be fingerprinted at this point. My fingertips have all been burnt off for the sake of another DIY costume.
Declan looked at my battered fingertips again and asked, “Do you want me to press play so we can see the next step?”
I looked to the TV where a YouTube video was on pause. The video was of a woman detailing a step by step instructional video for making a new costume for Declan’s newest craze: Among Us.
I wanted to throw my most sarcastic voice out there and say, “SURE! Let’s see what lie she tells us next,” but I didn’t. I was good.
“Yes. Press play. Let us see what she says to do next.”
I have found these DIY videos are always less than five minutes long. The person making the video does the project with ease. They are happy and give off the vibe of, “Isn’t this fun?!” The project is supposed to be cheap and easy to make with household items.
Cheap IF YOU HAVE the household items and are not living with a completely infatuated autistic child who doesn’t understand why you just won’t get the things to make the most awesome costume ever! (Most awesome for today, at least). Not so cheap if you are driving to and from the craft store for bags and bags of hot glue. Or ordering paint pens and orange felt from Amazon.
And now I know why there is calming music playing in the video background. Because it helps tame the “I want to hot glue your lips together, you evil, lying, project lady!” feeling.
At some point, the project finally ended. The project was not exactly the same as the one in the video – because, you know, she lied – but it met the needs of an excited little boy with his new Among Us costume, in his favorite color, orange.
When the rest of the family finally woke up and came downstairs, they weren’t sure exactly why I was so testy. But when they saw all the dried strands of hot glue on the counter next to the costume, they got the idea.
Bob and I do not really know Among Us, but apparently, Declan has full intentions of a family game of “Among Us in Real Life” tonight.
I guess I will play – as long as I do not have to make any more costumes!
This made me smile so much 😄 You are such a fantastic mom to help your children in this way! It came out looking great 🙂
Thank you so much! It was definitely way harder than the video made it seem. A lot of deep breathing later, there it was 🙂 Yay!
I saw the title and cringed! “I NEED TAPE!” Oh, how I hate those words. Thankfully Ben hasn’t discovered “How To” videos. (may he NEVER find them)
I know your frustration and I know how hard it is to keep working on the bleep bleep bleeping project, when all you want to do is chuck it across the room.
Ah, the things we do…
Sending hugs!! Remember, tomorrow is GLYSB Day😘💃🏼😂😂💕
There was an actual moment where I considered the “chuck this stupid thing across the room.” Thankfully, I pulled through and he got his helmet. Whew!! I know – tomorrow is another GLYSB day – no projects tomorrow!! Thank goodness!!
Great job!! I know the name and character shape from memes. All I know about the game is that someone is an imposter. Good luck!!
Next time you do a craft run/purchase, look for a hi/low temp glue gun! The lo barely hurts and , in my opinion, adheres better than high temp!!
Thank you! I had no idea about the glue gun. We just got the cheaper one at the craft store (I never thought I would use it this much 🙂 ). I think we will still be a “crafting family” by D’s choice so I should probably find one that fits my needs (and abilities). 🙂
I bought the dual temp one without looking. The cooler temp is almost always the better option, making me wonder why the single temp ones are set to hi instead of lo!!
I’m in awe of your patience of sense of humor! Maybe consider doing videos of your “real life” craft attempts that compare and contrast with the “ideal life” videos, showcasing your humor, of course 🙂
Thank you! The video may be a great idea. I have zero crafting skills and/or patience. Might be very comical to actually see!
Ha ha ha, sorry, but I had such a laugh at your poor fingertips expense. Kudos to you cuz I certainly would not have had the patience to last through that. The costume looks great and I know that Declan feels nothing but love and gratitude for your efforts. I just started hearing about this Among Us craze too. Gonna have to read up more on it now!
Haha! Thank you! I am so impatient with projects – they require a lot of deep breathing to get through. But I saw how much D wanted this one, so I persevered 🙂 To my fingertips peril! Among Us is definitely the “new thing.” All my kids are into it and even watch the “how to determine who is the imposter” videos on YouTube. And Declan can’t be happier if he is the imposter (like I know what that means!). A fun new game that has become his new costume. Thank goodness, it is done!
I looked it up. It sounds like a very interesting game. It’s a variation of card games I used to play called Mafia. It’s funny how things get updates for new generations. I can see how D enjoys better being the imposter. It sounds like a fun role and game!
You are a remarkable Mum. Patience remains despite hot glue burnt fingers , and the resilience to just carry on and be willing to play the game. Bravo!!
Thank you so much, Anne!!
That’s pretty cool. Both of my kids love Among Us. This sound eerily similar to Eli’s pyrotechnic project (also from youtube). After we go to three stores in three towns looking for the right brand of septic cleaner, we’re already $20 and a half day into the project. Thankfully, we seem to be moving out of that phase, which is good, because Sophie told me she would never accompany me to the store that sells black powder again. “What grade powder do you want?” “Ummm.” “Well what are you shooting, a musket?” “Ummm. We just plan to blow it up.”
That sounds like a funny conversation! Every time I think we are through a phase, we jump into another one whole heartedly. I did put my foot down and declare I was finished with projects in 2020. Not sure though. Declan always finds a way to convince me to do something “interesting” and “crafty.”
Could you make me a Minecraft costume? I want to be a Creeper…
You know what? At this point I think I could ace the costume. Being a Creeper cracked me up too 🙂
I can sense the level of self control needed to get anywhere near completing this. Worryingly I have had running tops like this. You really are the best parent going.
It took me about two weeks to agree to do it. Two LONG weeks of questions until I broke down and really focused on my deep breathing 🙂
What a good mom you are! I hate crafts. This project would’ve broken me. 🙂
Thank you!
Welcome. You go, mom! 🙂
When Declan is twenty, he will remember fondly all of these crafts you did with him. Just to be sure, take lots of pictures.
In the past five years I have collaborated the highlights and funny moments and put them into a memory book I make on Shutterfly and give to the family on Christmas. It is so fun to look at as a family and it really helps to remember all these cool details years later!
Good Job!
Thank you!