One of my favorite children’s book characters is Olivia. She’s independent, sassy, precocious and an all around pain the ass. I like her! In the Caldecott Award winning book, Olivia, she gets after her little brother Ian for copying her. It’s really funny…er, until it happens in real life.

I have two kids, Toby who is 15 and Anie who is 5. Sometimes Anie won’t leave Toby alone, so he has to be firm. This is what happens. The names and pictures have changed to become Teen Monster and the Screaming Mimi from a series of ACEO cards I made based on Teen Monsters.

Oops! Teen Monster has taken things a little too far and accidentally pops the dolly’s head off.


Screaming Mimi is thinking about what just happened. As soon as it registers that her momma has witnessed the event she…

…unloads with an ear piercing, hair splitting scream.

Sometimes the stress of parenting – simply because I might be overwhelmed or not sure what to do next – makes me turn my children into little monsters on paper. It’s my way of coping and making a stressful situation humorous.

BTW, my kids really do love each other!