The Napkins

I started something in December 2015 that took off into something bigger than it was intended to.  One innocent note to my daughter on a napkin in her lunch box, became something that friends and family wait for each day. And now fun 

What started the napkin drawing was my daughter came home from school. She told me no one would play with her and she sat on a bench during recess. My daughter is 4 and in preschool. She looked so sad, so forlorn. However, my daughter can also spew out a ton of bull, so I'm not sure how much of this is true. But she kept saying it happened every day.  (It doesn't anymore and I'm not sure it really did — but I'll give her the benefit.)

One day I decided to write a simple I heart (the actual shape not the word. I mean she's smart and all but she's 4) U. She came home and told me it made her day better. I knew I needed to do more. I was made fun of in school (and I have extremely low self-esteem — let me just throw that out there, in case any of you want to kick me when I'm down, haha) and it hurts. I have also seen friends' children being picked on, and even hurt, because they are different. I would tell Lizzie to ask someone to play, giving her suggestions on games they could play, like tag or slide races. If I could just make her day a little bit better then maybe she will be all right. She can have something to look forward and maybe boost her spirits and confidence.

Then her Elf on the Shelf drew a self portrait to prank her in her lunch. That night, after her bedtime story, she looked at me and said, "I wonder what will be on my napkin tomorrow." Then I knew I needed to do more.  So I did. 

I posted it to Instagram, sharing it through that social media site to Facebook and Twitter. I would receive several comments on the drawings. Then I got texts, emails and messages from friends saying they look forward to drawing them. One friend told me she thinks she is more excited than Lizzie to see them. You guys, that makes my heart swell and makes me happy! Seriously! 

I still draw them every day for Lizzie, but I also draw to make others smile, to give my friends and family a small bright spot in their day.

The drawings are not traced. I Google what I want to draw and look at it while I draw it. They are no where near perfect. Some have color and some don't. They are just simple little drawings to make you smile. Since I have been drawing and writing things like I love you, Lizzie is learning to write I love you. It is adorable to get a drawing from her with I LV U and a heart on it and makes it all worth it.

When I travel or we eat out, I always try to grab a paper napkin and use it for a drawing. It's a fun reminder of where we have been and a way to reuse.

Look them up on Instagram, searching the hashtag #lizziesnapkins