abbie

Yesterday I watched Wolf Blizter interview the father of one of the young women who was killed at Virginia Tech. This man spoke eloquently and unflinchingly about his beautiful Reema, a nineteen year old who loved to dance and who had a beguiling smile.

It’s times like this when I am reminded how lucky I am to have my two wonderful children, with whom I feel very close and of whom I am very proud. I’ve talked about Max on this blog; now it’s Abbie’s turn.

Abbie, just after her second birthay


When Abbie was a little squirt, she began drawing and coloring and molding and markering and mixing and making – just like most kids. Abbie did this a lot, though, and she did it pretty well. Once she started school, teachers began to comment on her artistic talent. She simply has always found joy in expressing herself artistically. Abbie grew into a conscientious student, a damn good photographer, writer and singer, and a kind, loving person. She went on to major in art at Yale and now has the pleasure each day of sharing her joy of learning and her love of art with a gaggle of Catholic schoolgirls in plaid skirts. Abbie is the kindergarten through 4th grade art teacher at Sacred Heart Academy in New Orleans.

Now, instead of plastering my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator with her childhood drawings and watercolors, I have the pleasure of going to her website and seeing what goodies her charges are making. Abbie is getting some really wonderful work out of these young girls. But most important, she makes each girl feel as if she is responsible for the most expressive and innovative of creations. She encourages - and does not tolerate negativity. She lets the girls explore their feelings and helps them learn the importance of discovering their own personal voices. She gives them lots of time and space and freedom. She pushes them to explore new ideas and possibilities. She shows a great deal of respect for each student’s ability. Abbie exposes these young children to the works of well known painters and ceramicists, but, in the end, I am pretty sure they each come away from art class feeling pretty darn great about their own skills. I’m certain that Abbie, in her gentle, wise, kind, supportive and quiet way, is having a powerful impact on these girls – one that spills over into everything they do.

She makes the girls feel special and makes sure they know that what they create is special, as well. Not only are their “masterpieces” showcased around school on various bulletin boards, they are also featured on a cool website Abbie created. This gives the girls a chance to show off their work to far flung family and friends (and there are a lot of those in the lives of these girls whose families returned to New Orleans after Katrina) and to celebrate their artistic successes.

Honestly, I wish I had had a teacher like Abs when I was young. What confidence I would have had in myself early on as an artist and as a person!

Take a look at some of the wonderful work her students are doing.












And give your own children big ole hugs tonight, because we all know that each and every one of them is truly special in his or her own way.

Most important, make sure they know how grateful you are to have them in your life.