I’m currently teaching functional skills English in a college and working in two community settings with adults who have learning difficulties and disabilities. On my days in the community, I teach arts and crafts as well as drama. I am well qualified in English and performing arts, having spent many years studying and working in both areas, but arts and crafts is a huge swerve for me.

I’ve been snooty about “crafters” for a long time. I know the exact moment my craft-based bigotry began. It was about a decade ago in the playground of my son’s preschool. Some Boden-clad she-bastard told me a) how I would never bond with my boy because I had him by Caesarean, and b) being a mother was her everything, but she also did scrapbooking. I was horrified. It was the first time I’d heard the word “scrapbook” used as a verb.

She went on to boast of her weekly scrapbooking “crop” and how she often spent up to £200 a page. There were so many “What the hell are you on about?” moments in such a short space of time that I became concerned it might be me. Was I having some sort of medical episode, or a good-time related flashback (if you can remember the 90s, you weren’t there)?

I’m mad for covering anything in PVA glue and wanging glitter at it

From that moment on, every time I met someone who identified as a “crafter”, I smiled like Wallace and/or Gromit, then slowly backed away for fear of an encounter with another mega-loon. There’s only one problem. I love a bit of cutting and sticking, me. I’m mad for covering anything in PVA glue and wanging glitter at it. And don’t get me started on art supplies. I’ve been at the ready with a fully loaded cupboard of rainbow paints and pencils since my son was old enough to grip. But he’s never showed any interest whatsoever.

So when my manager asked if I wanted to teach very basic arts and crafts, I had to hold back from hurling myself at her for a full body slam of a hug. It was an opportunity to purge the memory of that playground mother-cutter (and sticker), allowing me to finally embrace the idea that nice people do crafts, too.

And so to my first teaching session… Shove the false modesty, it was a triumph! My students produced fabulous work and the conversation went in all sorts of directions - it’s as much about promoting positive mental health and opportunities for social interaction as anything arty.

I spent all Sunday afternoon at my kitchen table creating a project board for each student based on the image that had inspired their “stained glass wine glass” (Sharpie pens and acrylic cups), the line drawing of the image and photos of the finished product.

It didn’t feel like work. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Who knows, I might even buy a scrapbook.

Sarah Simons works in FE colleges in the East Midlands @MrsSarahSimons