The Monster in Me...

©Kathleen Tennant

I spent many years wearing a blue headgear that sat on my head like a helmet.  The blue part attached itself with clunky metal parts to a white cup that sat on my chin. I can remember the very first day I wore it to school. It was grade one. I was so embarrassed. I remember not wanting to look around the classroom.  I could feel eyes staring at me; trying to get a look at what was under my hood, or was it a hat?  There really wasn't much I could do about it. I had to wear it. I remember my mom talking to the teacher. There was teasing but I don't remember too much of it. I only remember my brother threatening to punch the lights out of some kid if he didn't stop bugging me. Once he spoke he then ran back out into the field he was playing on with his friends. I don't remember being teased about my head gear ever again, by anyone.

I have spent many years in a dental chair. So many in fact I get a bit of anxiety before even getting my teeth cleaned for fear they will tell me something major will have to be done. I am almost 44 and still have four baby teeth in my mouth. At some point something major will have to be done.

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©Kathleen Tennant

As mentioned in a previous blog post, my friend, Joyelle wrote the book Princess Monsters from A to Z.  Once her book was launched she challenged a few of us to draw the monster inside of us.  The "monster" is simply be something that makes you feel different from the next person. It's a way to celebrate all the unique parts of us that sometimes make us feel like we stand out when really we just want to fit in.

Our task was to not only create our monster through drawing but we were to name it, describe its hobbies, biggest pet peeve, favourite foods and personality.  Soooo, let me introduce to you my monster, Cindy.  When I was really young I wished my name was Cindy.  I have no clue why given I am no more a Cindy than I am a Kathy.  The blue hair represents the helmet I had to wear and the flower the cup on my chin. The Frankenstein bolts are what holds my teeth in place. The two teeth represent many years with hardly any teeth. Throughout it all I learned to laugh.  It was only recently that I realized how much I carried with me about that time.  It turned out my genes are strong.  When my son had to wear the same chin-gear and my daughter had to have a whole ton of teeth pulled I cried when the dentist told them of their plight. I surprised myself with the tears. I never thought I would have that reaction. I did though. I suppose it was fear of them having to look like the outcast I felt I looked like.

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©Kathleen Tennant

Her name is Cindy the Monster

• she loves to live in her imagination 
• in her imagination she is outspoken, spontaneous, playful and loving; her reality is that she is shy
• she has wings so she can fly and be free
• her heart is huge and full of compassion
• her shoes are blue because they match her hair
• her favourite food is a bacon cheese burger
• her biggest pet peeve ~ those who lie

To learn more about Princess Monsters from A to Z click here: http://joyellebrandt.blogspot.ca/p/princess-monsters-from-to-z.html

To see Ginger of Red Pear Creative's post click here: http://redpearcreative.blogspot.ca/2014/10/monsters.html

To see Violette's post click here:  http://www.violette.ca/crazy-like-a-fox-the-monster-in-me/