Originally Posted by
Iraxy
As a young girl, I loved to draw. My mother wanted me to concentrate on "something real." She said my drawings were "time wasters and something that would get me nowhere". I stopped drawing and concentrated on the basics to get me a job when I grew up. I never took up another hobby that required creativity until I started quilting. She was not impressed with my quilting either and managed to tell me so often.
My mom died several years ago and when my sister and I went through her things I found many of my 50 year old drawings among her things. I was devastated.
Thankyou for sharing this. How terribly sad for your Mom and for you, that she was so unable to express her appreciation and damaged your confidence so much by her failure to do so. And deprived herself of the opportunity to have a beautiful quilt made by her daughter. Who can know why - maybe she was frightened for your future and wanted to be sure you focused on what would earn you a living. What a lesson to all of us, to encourage and affirm each other - we all need it.
It makes me think, because I've never offered a quilt to my mother either, never even considered it until recently - have just assumed she won't want one. And she would never ask. I wonder what part the memories of childhood putdowns and comparisons are playing there?