It’s an absolutely gorgeous time of year here in the Midwest. The sun is shining most of the time, and we’re pretty confident that it’s not gonna snow any time soon (though you never can be TOO sure). The kids are just about through the chicken pox, and it’s finally time to get them back outside playing. The kids….playing. That’s the goal, right? For the kids to go out and play. Not for Mommy to go out and entertain the kids.
I promised in my very first post that I would do my best to be honest. Here goes……I don’t like to play.
Whew…..I said it. I don’t like to play. I like to read. I like to cook. I like to scrapbook. I like to dance. I like to take walks. And I like to do all of those things with my kids. But I don’t like to play.
Does that make me a bad mom? I’m not sure of the answer. Kids like to play. I have kids. I should like to play with them, shouldn’t I? Maybe I’m broken.
The truth is, though, that I don’t ever remember liking to play. Maybe my mom could tell you differently (although she claims to have forgotten all these details. Ginkgo biloba, mom.). But I remember friends wanting to go out and play Barbies and play house and whatever, and I could never really get excited for it. Now, set me up with a good book, and I’d be lost all day in it.
I haven’t changed much there. I went outside with the kids today, and brought out a chair and a book. The kids (at least the older one) wanted to play tag. She kept coming to me and tagging and saying, “You’re it!” I don’t want to be it.
“Go tag your brother. He can be it. He likes running.” Why do you think I had him, anyway? (Kidding.)
I honestly would rather bake a cake with the kids than play. I’d rather sit and read to/with them for an hour than play. I’d rather dance around the living room with them than play. And some times I do.
And some times I just suck it up and play because I know they need it. But not usually.
I will do my best to be honest with you so here goes.. playing, as in running around like a crazy person and tag and barbies are probably fun if you are a kid, but as an adult it’s tiring. I know that play is important to kids and that they want to and moms should want to, but sometimes I believe there’s an internal component inside of us that sometimes forbids us to partake in goofy stuff like that because we are just too exhausted!!!!!!!!
I agree with you that there are so many different things that are fun that I would rather do ….dancing is fun!!!!! Talking is fun. Going to movies is fun. Cooking and baking is fun. But I think that all moms feel like you so don’t beat yourself up. Kids remember when you baked cookies with them, appreciate the scrapbooks and photo albums you made for them, and gave them hugs and when they get older they will really appreciate it when they knew they could always sit down and talk to mom when they need to. They get YOU, mom’s undivided attention whenever they needed it.
I think we moms are just exhausted, that’s what our middle names should be you know!!! but it’s the quality of the time you spend with your kids…your heart is what they need always. I have a 10 year old who would probably ( I hope) tell you that he feels so good that he can sit down and talk together, that those times are the most precious. I love our little talks together. It’s the best part of being a mom!!!!!!
Thanks. It’s good to know I’m not alone. Of course, what I think my kids would reallllly love is to play with their Auntie Lisa.
You’d better get your act together, woman, if you want to keep your new job.
hehee
Hsien: I was wondering if that post would get my contract revoked.