Ms. Mo: Exploring the Mo'shroom
Hello!
My name is Amy Moseley, but everyone knows me as Ms. Mo.
My pronouns are she/her. I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2013 with a double bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Art Education. I have been teaching art at a middle school in Tucson, Arizona, ever since. I reside with my husband, youngest child, and multiple cats. When I am not teaching, I love to binge-watch TV with my youngest, create miniatures, build wooden doll houses, make a multitude of crafty items, and sketch mushrooms (of course).
I have raised three children, two of whom are on the spectrum. The experiences that I have had raising them greatly influenced the creation of the Mo'shroom, as well as many of the middle school students who have entered my classroom. My mushroom monster, who uses the pronouns they/them, is socially awkward, doesn’t understand social cues, and has social anxiety. They need structure, routine, and time to process. They generally dislike being touched or being in crowded spaces. In the story, the Mo’shroom encounters many critters with a mix of emotions and reactions. The Mo’shroom struggles to understand what the critters are doing and how to respond to them, which usually ends with the mushroom being overwhelmed and frustrated.
I hope that the reader might find a connection with the Mo’shroom, whether it is someone on the spectrum, someone who is neurodivergent, or someone who has a desire to understand. The story is written whimsically, but it does address real-life scenarios.
This story has been years in the making, and I have finally self-published it. My parents, my husband, and even my boss gave me the courage and motivation to make it happen. I hope you check it out and enjoy it.
*Please note that I am not a professional in autism or mental health. I am a neuro-spicy mother who raised two children on the spectrum, and an art teacher who has worked with middle schoolers for the past twelve years. Any semblance to any actual person is purely coincidental.
Where it All Began
Nearing the end of my college years, I thought I had finally found my niche. I was creating large abstract paintings of old vintage signs, showcasing their rust and faded, peeling paint. I still love old signage, but when I started teaching, everything changed. The time needed to prep and plan for the classroom took over the time needed to paint. I decided that something small and easy to pause was a good way to fit in some artist time. In 2017, I taught a group of middle schoolers how to make thematic sketchbooks. Each student thoughtfully picked a topic for their sketchbook: candy, steampunk, floral, Disney, and one even chose Rick and Morty. I was originally going to create a sketchbook full of signs, but it didn’t feel right, for whatever reason. I was stumped, so I asked the class what I should choose as my theme. They reminded me how much I like mushrooms and unanimously decided that I should draw them instead. With themes ready to go, we had a new prompt to draw every day. I personified a lot of mushrooms and mashed-up mushrooms with all kinds of things from robots to bouquets. My favorite prompt was “draw a monster”. I drew two mushrooms quietly sneaking up on a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch, opening their mouths wide to reveal long, sharp fangs. The pumpkin didn’t stand a chance! And that was that! I drew this little monster everywhere I could. Over the next few years, students started asking me about it, what or who it was, why it was mean, why it was shouting, could I draw it with a smile (my answer was always no), and could I draw them a mushroom (my answer was always yes). As the mushroom evolved and took on its personality, I realized that it was a lot like me. It would do the things I was not allowed to do, like shout and be angry. My children and my students commented that they couldn’t shout or be angry either. By the end of the year, everyone was familiar with my monster. I don’t remember if it was my students who chose its name or if I did, but Ms. Mo needed to name her mushroom the Mo’shroom. Since then, the Mo’shroom has taken on many aspects that one would see on the spectrum or with someone who is neurodivergent. The mushroom is less of me now and more of my children and many of my students.
FYI: I have a bunch of other monsters that I have not shown you! There are saguaros, cheese, cake, candy, flowers…. all monsters! I’ll need to introduce them to you soon!
Where it is Now
And here it is!
The Mo’shroom is alive and in a book!
I am so proud of this accomplishment and find it funny that I am already wanting to make changes. Do all artists feel this way? To satisfy this urge, I am working on a second edition. I am adding details to answer questions about what happened after the first encounters, specifically with the squirrel, the rabbit, and the snail. I am also thinking about adding more encounters with the rat and the toad. If there is a critter you want to see, let me know!
I am also working on a story about the rabbit’s background, so keep an eye out for future announcements!
