THE PEANUT GALLERY: Family Portraits

There may be no better way to immortalize a person than to have their child draw a picture of them. Marble sculpture? Bronze bust? Oil painting? No, sir. Give my 5 year-old a box of Crayolas any day of the week and let her imagination run wild. (Besides, I'm too self-conscious to be painted or sculpted.)

Even better, Peanut is becoming quite the little artist. Unlike her dancing gene, which she obviously gets from me, this love of art comes from My Director's side. My mother-in-law was a stellar art teacher. My Director loves that artsy stuff too. Me? Admittedly, whenever Peanut asks, "Daddy, come color with me," I cringe. A pit forms in my stomach. I immediately try to think of an excuse to get out of it. It's true. I'd rather unload the dishwasher than color with my child. The best I can usually do is a house, a tree, a sun, and some stick figures.

Realizing that's cruel and contrary to everything I believe as a parent, I then try to convince her that something else would be more fun:

"C'mon, Peanut. Instead we can totally eat ice cream and jump on the bed before mommy gets home. She'll never know."

"No, daddy. I just want to color."

"Fine. Have it your way."

Whether I like it or not, Peanut loves to draw. Her favorite subject is our family. Here is the spot-on picture of My Director she recently drew for Mother's Day: 

The glasses. The earrings. The boots. Perfect.

Not to be outdone, here's what was hanging in school all week, in honor of Father's Day:

Look at all that hair she gave me.

And the pink shirt is kind of my trademark. I also appreciate her matching my tie and my shoes. I do my best to look stylish. She's got a keen eye, that little Peanut.

My favorite family portrait of hers is hanging on the refrigerator:

I'm wearing a Jets shirt, btw.
And I love how she calls the dog "Luna Puppy."

Peanut's drawing of me has improved dramatically. Last year's effort is in this post.