Stress relief with Coloring Archives

Unique gift Idea for Mom

In Mom’s later stages of Alzheimer’s she lived with us until moving into a Group Home. Grandchildren were always around, so Mom became quite addicted to coloring.

Unlike today, Adult Coloring books were not a common item in our home back then. I didn’t consider a Coloring Book a Unique Gift Idea for Mom.

If the Adult coloring books of today existed 7 years ago, Mom would have been overwhelmed with joy and frankly, so would I.

In the beginning, I sat at the table and colored with Mom as a way to share time with her. But I have to say, “coloring” draws-you-in and becomes a captivating hobby. It wasn’t long before I enjoyed coloring as much as Mom did. It is relaxing to release stress and enjoy the moment. I did prefer the adult coloring books though.

Mom loved coloring and told everyone she met that she had painted great artistic masterpieces for our home and hers. Mom’s home had been gone for several years since she could no longer live alone. The only master pieces I could remember were the pretty pages she colored in her coloring book, but I would never correct her. Coloring for Mom had become a work of Pride and Joy.

Her first work was pages from my grandchildren’s coloring books.

When I finally realized how much Mom loved coloring, I suggested a trip to buy a few books of her own. A friend had told me about the new Adult Coloring Books Mom accepted the offer with a giggle of excitement like an artist with a new canvas.

Being a religious woman, Mom chose a children’s coloring book of “Bible Stories.” Despite my urging to buy several of the new Adult Coloring books, Mom only wanted the children’s Bible Story Coloring Book.

A thick coloring book that told a Bible Story on each page with large picture and descriptive paragraph at the bottom. Mom recognized each picture without note of the description below.

She remembered bible stories from younger years and recited scripture for each picture in the coloring book without reading the text.

Whether planned or not, this had been the perfect gift for Mom. Though inexpensive, it was the most unique and pleasurable gift Mom received in her later years with Alzheimer’s.

Our second purchase that day was a BIG box of Crayons with a sharpener. No visitor entered our home without seeing Mom’s new coloring book, crayons and the sharpener on the back of the box.

Seeing all the pretty Adult Coloring Books of today makes me sad that Mom will never see them. I wish I had known about those all those years ago. Still, she loved the book she chose.

Now, Mom’s Bible Story coloring book Mom is a constant memory of the pleasure she had during her final weeks. I remember how much she loved it, how often she shared every story. She was so proud of that book that she asked that it be passed down to her grandchildren as an heirloom from her.

Her words make me smile to this day as I think of that Coloring Book stashed away in my closet. It will become an heirloom some day–but not yet.

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