Parenting Hiccups
Parenting Hiccups is about appreciating time with children—including the difference between a parent’s theoretical “plan” and the actual reality of how time becomes filled. Anyone who interacts with children understands that these two sorts of time can be very different.
The top portion describes the theory that it’s important to make time for one’s self. But as moments flow through the hourglass-type shape from theory to practice, it’s clear that there isn’t even much room in the finite time vessel for that idea of “self” to become reality.
Yet, the handwritten musing in the lower finite time portion describes a very fun moment with children, saying “We giggled until we all had the hiccups, and the moment was more than time could hold.” For, as much as we might try to contain our moments into a planned schedule, it is the spontaneous moments of heart-warming fun and laughter that expand across our life and become more than any measure of time. This is why the blue and red time-particles are shown over-flowing beyond the boundaries of the vessel.
“Hiccups” are often used as a metaphor to represent a break or set-back in time’s otherwise smooth flow—and the parenting timeline has many. But in the end, it’s those unplanned, silly, playful hiccups that we are eternally grateful for, and we would much rather have them than any other time we might try to squeeze in. The chance to play with children and try to see the world from their perspective is a blessing, so whatever schedule we’re on, or trying to make time for, will simply have to wait.
Parenting Hiccups was created in Adobe Photoshop by combining scans of paint-dots and finger-prints made by my children with photos, graphics, type, and my handwriting.