Piet Mondrian - Who Knew?

Sam, the son of writers, is turning into quite the kindergarten scribe. I love reading the little notes in the margins of his school papers. "This is DUM!" (with a round circle dot to emphasize the exclamation point on the same week they learned about exclamation points).

The other day one of his margin notes caught my eye.

"Pie?" I read aloud. "Pie - ette? Pie-yet?"

Hey Sam, what did you write here, I ask. It says P-I-E-T.

He sighs and says, "It's Pete Mondrian, Mom."

Pete Mondrian? "Who's Pete Mondrian? Is that a new boy in school?"

No response. "Sam?" He looks up - stares into me with those big eyes of his. I think he thinks I'm goofing around so I make the international "huh?" gesture with my palms, shoulders and eyebrows up. (Some of you may know it as the famous "wha???? gesture).

"PIET MONDRIAN MOM!" (Because being a mom, I'm dumb AND deaf).
"You mean Pie-ette?" I ask.

"Pete! PETE!" he responds (like I know). "Pete Mondrian, mom."

I am a fountain of blank stares.

"Mom! Duh!!! Pete Mondrian. The ARTIST?! He makes paintings with lines and squares. Pete. Mon-dri-an. P.....I.....E.....T... MONDRIAN!!!!"

"Oh okay. That's great honey," I say, making a mental note to Google it later. A day or so later he brought home his very own Piet Mondrian painting from art class. Photo featured above. Apparently kindergarten has changed a lot. And when these kids get into the workforce - none of us has a chance.