Lilly Paints Herself Into a Corner

I went to paint reindeer with Emma's first grade class. The baby went with me - we all rushed off to school at oh-dark-thirty, late, with oatmeal smeared on our clothing. Then I went into her class to volunteer right away because why not, I was already there, dressed in something I wouldn't wear to a swap meet (I always swear I won't wear this outfit for the whole day as I'm jamming on something awful in a rush, and then by six p.m. - yep, still on me) -- anyway, I go in to the class carting the baby and proceed to make painted reindeer. Each kid has to take off their shoe so I can trace around their foot. This is the reindeer's face. Then I paint the palms of their hands and stick them on construction paper, and this is the reindeer's antlers. It's actually a cute art project. The kids are loving the feel of paint on their hands, and Lilly, who usually wanders the room in an 18 month old quest to empty every closet and child's backpack, is very interested in the painting process. She won't go anywhere, in fact, she waits patiently for some paint. To keep Lilly busy, I set her up with a few little dabs of paint and a paint brush. There are 20 kids in Emma's class, all with names like Saul, and they keep me busy, so I barely get a chance to look at Lilly, who is quietly beside me watching everything. And - tragically - doing exactly what we're doing. After tracing about ten kids' feet and painting about twenty palms, I turn to look at Lilly. She has painted her hands, her chin, her cheeks, her hair, the tops of her shoes, and looks at me happily as she sticks the paintbrush in her second ear. The color is a nice grayish green, which is apparently what every color mixed up looks like on facial skin. In a matter of fifteen minutes, Lilly has painted herself into a mosaic.

There's really nothing I can do. I offer her a bagel. She really wants to finish her left ear. I can't leave ten other kids reindeer-less. So I finish with the kids. Then I cart Lilly around to different teachers to show her the masterpiece she has made herself, and me with no wipes. Ahh, it's winter, we needed a hot bath anyway.