The best part about Back to School season -- the fresh box of Crayola Crayons. That was my favorite, as a kid and a teacher. The box is so perfectly aligned, orchestrated, and the smell is heavenly.
And, then my hands, both as a kid and an adult, grab a hold of that box of perfection for them to unravel into a worn down, unhinged, out of the rainbow-order mess. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. The same philosophy applies to that same box of perfectly aligned crayons. Sitting next to other girls in my elementary classes, I can remember coveting their perfectly kept crayons in and around the month of December, and don’t even mention the month of May. I was jealous of the girls that could keep their Crayola boxes so perfect by the end of the school year -- especially the 64 pack with the built in sharpener. Mine were messy, chaotic, and definitely used. BUT! They were so well loved.
My Pish Posh creation space is my grown up version of that box of crayons. It always starts out so clean, organized, and smelling pretty. By the end of the WEEK, it is a crazy chaotic mess of ideas gone right and wrong. To the many friends that offer to come over and help “anytime,” I am afraid you wouldn’t understand how I function in my used box of crayons. <enter the emoji of covered face peeking out with one eye, you know the one>
I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, ever. Not even when I went off to college did I know for sure. However, I wish someone would have told me that I would find my happiness in the different seasons of adulthood by embracing them like a box of crayons. All of them would start out looking like the fresh box and end up looking like the unhinged box. A lot of times, I have tried to cover up the mess in order to seem more in control; but the best results have come from the messy – as a daycare provider, teacher, and now business owner. My family, my kids, and my extended kids, known as my students, have all benefited from my best version of a box of crayons. I really want to go back and tell that 9 year old girl – embrace your own box of crayons, girl! It will serve you well later in life.
Every single one of the Pish Posh tees comes from the uncontrolled, creative, messy fun that happens in my head. I am so thankful for everyone who embraces the results from my own box of crayons, no matter how they look. What once was embarrassing just fills my cup with joy and happiness watching people react to Pish Posh T-Shirts with a giggle or a smile.
Here’s to the messy, well-loved crayon boxes!