Just six simple words that can send shivers down your spine: “Mom, will you play with me?”
Little Daisy, my newly minted four-year-old, was bouncing with excitement after her first half-day of kindergarten. I had just picked her up, and we had a solid three hours before it was time to fetch her sister, Chloe. After a quick lunch, she looked up at me with those big, hopeful eyes and asked the dreaded question.
Now, some of you might judge me and label me a bad mom, but I must confess: the thought of playing with my children fills me with dread. Hand me a Barbie doll, and I can dress and undress her for ages. Give me a book, and I’ll read it to anyone willing to listen. Hand me a set of Legos, and I can construct something spectacular. But “play”? That’s a different story.
“Let’s pretend I’m a butterfly, Mom,” Daisy announced.
“Okay!” I replied, trying to muster enthusiasm.
“You have to say, ‘Here comes the butterfly,’” she instructed.
“Sure! Here comes the butterfly,” I said, but all she did was frown.
“No, not yet. I’m not ready!”
As she dashed off to the next room, I heard the unmistakable sound of her dress-up box spilling onto the floor. “Now I’m ready!” she called.
“Here comes the butterfly!” I chirped, and out she twirled in her sparkly wings, only to retreat back into her playroom.
“Okay, now pretend this is a wedding, and I’m Barbie!”
“Got it!”
“You have to say, ‘Here comes Barbie bride girl,’” she reminded me.
“Here comes Barbie bride girl!” I exclaimed.
“Not yet, Mom. I’m not ready!”
The pattern was clear: “Playing” with Daisy meant her issuing a series of commands, leaving me feeling more like an actor in her one-woman show than an equal participant. So, I found myself resorting to some creative excuses to escape the “fun.”
- “I need to use the restroom.”
- “Is the coffee ready?”
- “Oops, I think I hear the doorbell!”
- And the ultimate lifeline: “Let me just check my email real quick.”
I know deep down that soon enough, my girls will outgrow the desire to play with me. I’ll probably look back and regret not engaging more during their early years, but hey, what’s one more layer of parental guilt on top of the rest?
I genuinely adore the performances they put on, where they sing and dance. I relish being the supportive audience, clapping and cheering without any pressure to participate. But when it comes to imaginative play, where I’m relegated to a supporting role with no real input, it drives me up the wall. Being bossed around by a four-year-old is not exactly my idea of a good time! So, I will continue to dread those six little words: “Mom, will you play with me?”
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Summary:
Playing with kids can be a daunting task, especially when it involves following their imaginative scenarios without much input. While it can be fun to support their creativity from the sidelines, many parents may find themselves overwhelmed by the demand to play. It’s a common struggle that many parents face, leading to feelings of guilt.