I do not want to be my children’s servant. and sometimes I don’t want to play that game. And I definitely do not always want to play what they want to play unless it’s something I like to play.
I love Lego and puzzles and board games. I like reading stories to my kids, but acting out stories, as in pretend play, bore me to tears. Of course, pretend play is what my children liked best. (Actually, they still like it, even at 9, 12 and 13.) They love putting on plays. Isn’t that great? I should be so happy for them…
Instead of participating I take myself out with excuses like, “I have to work” or “Someone has to make dinner if we’re going to eat.” Now, I admit that I realize that I am the one loosing out: I understand that they will not always want to play with me. Before I know it, they will leave the world of pretend and childhood altogether.
They grow up so fast. I do not know how it happened that they are so big already. My oldest is starting to look at colleges. How did that happen? When I see people with newborns or very small babies I think that mine were never that small, I cannot remember those times clearly. I can recall them, but time flies, and memories move to the background of our minds). I am glad for the mental and real pictures I have to bring back memories. Nobody can take away the moments I claimed, like when my oldest took his first few steps, or even when each of them was born and I got to hold them for the first time.
For all this, I still do not want to play their games (my way or the highway) and I find myself telling them they need to help or compromise instead of play.
Should I tell you how that is working for me? Not great! How about you, which games do you like to play, and which ones do you avoid? What are your excuses and how do you feel after making them?
And the journey continues!