Still Resisting The Rainbow Loom? Just Do It.

I know I am a little late to the party. How do I know? Because when I went to the fourth grade Thanksgiving feast at school, every single kid there was wearing the proof. And talking about them. And talking about making them. And giving them to friends.

My daughter had at least ten of them herself. They were all given to her by her friends. Because they all felt sorry for her. Because they already had the stupid thing. She was apparently the only kid in the county who did not.

Because I am the worst mother in the world. And I didn’t want one in my house. If you are still in the dark then maybe you are a terrible mother too.

Here are the facts:

This:

Plus this:

Equals this:

And THIS evidently is todays equivalent of friendship pins from when I was in school. Which just for the record was WAY easier and my mother never once had to assist me.

But back to the loom. If you have friends, then you have bracelets. If you don’t then you must suck. Or more specifically your mother sucks. That would be me. My daughter was receiving pity bracelets.

After seeing them all over the school I decided that it was only cruel for her not to have one too. I had to make sure that Santa knew how important it was that she get one on Christmas morning. She would be so happy.

And then she was out a week for Thanksgiving break. And she was on the computer watching instructional videos on how to make Rainbow loom bracelets. She said she was preparing for Christmas morning. Which was a month away.

Then she talked about how if only she could make bracelets for her whole family and all of her friends. That would make her so very happy.

I just couldn’t take it anymore. Thanks anyway. I’ve got this one Santa. I went and bought a loom.

Then I gave it to her. And this happened:

And suddenly I was Mother of the Year. For only $14.99. Bargain!

She instantly tore open the box, skimmed the instructions and dove into making her very first bracelet. Clearly Christmas had come a month early.

I was afraid of being sucked into the bracelet making process. I won’t lie. I have heard the horror stories. Kid making bracelets becomes mom making bracelets, while kid watches tv.

I heard about how my house will become littered with tiny, multicolored rubber bands. Wait. I was still not prepared for that. It was all happening too fast. Can I get a do-over?

I decided I should remove myself from the process completely. I left her alone to make bracelets for the entire world. I went upstairs.

After realizing that I had not heard a peep out of her in over an hour I decided to check in on her. I entered the room only to see a sad, little face.

She said it wasn’t as easy as it looked on You Tube. She was frustrated. In an hour she had only been able to make one puny, uneven bracelet. She felt sure that he looming days were going to end almost as soon as they had started. She was a loom failure.

I felt horrible. I had mistaken her silence for a loom victory. I was wrong. I asked her why she hadn’t come to me and asked for help. And then she proceeded to rip my heart out of my chest. Then stomp on it.

She said: I didn’t think you would want to help me. (Puppy dog eyes implied.)

I was a horrible mother after all. I had made my daughter feel like she couldn’t come to me for help. I am her mother. It is my job to teach her things that she has yet to learn. Even to loom. Which I have never done before either. So it was my job to learn with her.

I told her that I loved her more than anything in this world. I could think of nothing better than learning to loom with her. I apologized for making her feel like she couldn’t come to me. Being crafty was not my thing. But being her mother is my thing. And my greatest joy. If she wants to loom, then let the looming begin.

We worked on bracelet one. She picked one that I felt was too difficult to start with. I was right. We ruined it and had to start over. Three times.

Then I went to the restroom only to return to find her working on a bracelet that I felt sure was for loom experts only. At least this time I called it early. I vetoed that bracelet.

We decided to make a classic fishtail bracelet. Except she didn’t need me for that one. She just did it. On her very own. She made a bracelet. Then she made me this tie-dyed one for Iron Bowl week. If you aren’t from the South you can Google that. Or wait for my blog post next week. Cause that is coming for sure.

She is quite content right now to make fishtail bracelets for everyone in the family. Then we will move on to harder bracelets. When she is ready. And by she I mean me.

I learned an important lesson. Your kid may not be into the Rainbow loom. But whatever your child’s Rainbow loom may be, whatever is important to him/her, be a part of it. Me sitting there with her, watching and offering tips, made her so happy. She just needed encouragement and a little guidance.

That alone was worth every single pink and purple tie-dyed, glittery rubber band that I will vaccuum up pick up on my hands and knees for recycling, because those things are like gold.

I know before long she is going to be a loom Jedi master. I think for Christmas I am going to wish for a rubber band tiara.

After all wishes do come true.

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