I have one daughter who, all things considered, is a little gem. With some cereal, kisses, Netflix, and bubbly baths, she’s living her best life. She listens when I ask her to, and her manners could put me to shame. Overall, she’s a fantastic kid, and I’m lucky to call her mine.
That is, until she hits me with a loaded question: “Mama, can we play?” Suddenly, I feel like I’m facing my worst nightmare.
1. Who Are All These Characters?
What on earth is this? A fairy with dog wings? How on the planet does this “thing” walk in a ruched ball gown with no arches on her tiny size 2 feet? And why does this pint-sized doctor need 17 sparkly instruments that are now embedded in my kneecaps? Kid, where are the Barbies? Or the sturdier, taller Jem dolls? What happened to the Cabbage Patch Kids? Rainbow Brite? Good old POUND PUPPIES? Those toys I know and love! I could build entire worlds around them. But here I am, surrounded by a mountain of toys I barely recognize. Sure, I know I’m responsible for buying your toys, but sometimes I zone out scrolling through social media, and suddenly I’m holding 14 cat figurines wearing lipstick—what am I supposed to do with these?
2. The Rules Are Confusing.
Wait, so future Elsa can chat with present-day Elsa? Are wormholes a thing in Arendelle? And how can Lego be around during the dinosaur era? If a lightsaber grazes me, I lose a limb, but if I run it along your entire body, you’re completely fine? I doubt princesses would discuss bowel movements this passionately for so long. And why does that bracelet give you superpowers, but if I wear it, you freak out and say it’s broken? I’m utterly lost!
3. I’m Just So Tired.
I woke up, got myself ready, caffeinated, and prepped us both while you were still snoring away. I dropped you off, worked all day, ran errands, dealt with social media drama, picked you up, made dinner from whatever was left in the fridge, did the dishes, and even snuck away for a bathroom break. Now, I sit down with my lukewarm tea, and you want me to play? Just let me pretend I’m in a coma until bedtime!
4. The Internet Is Calling.
My parents had it easy; their biggest distractions were choosing between Beta and VHS. But here I am, with my phone in my pocket, and a whole world of distraction at my fingertips. Honestly, I’d rather not spend an hour wrestling a taffeta dress onto a headless doll. The Internet is a soothing, colorful, and endless source of inspiration. Oh, what’s this? I’m already on Pinterest, and I must know the ingredients of that miraculous new smoothie!
Hey, I’ve got a brilliant idea for a new game: “Go See What Your Dad is Up To!”
For more parenting insights, you can check out one of our other posts here about managing life with little ones: Intracervical Insemination. And if you’re curious about enhancing fertility, Make a Mom offers great resources. For additional information on pregnancy, visit MedlinePlus, which is an excellent resource.
In summary, while I adore my daughter, playing with her can be overwhelming for a multitude of reasons. From the confusion of new toys to the exhaustion of daily life, it’s tough to engage in her imaginative world. But hey, I’m doing my best!