Over the past year I’ve come to realize that I am not the get down on the floor and play cars kinda mom.? Judge me if you will, but I am just not that kind of person.? I probably should be.? Don’t get me wrong.? I like to play the occasional game with the boy.? I am in full support of puddle splashing.? I do play trains every so often and I will pull out the playdoh and make snakes.
This behavior in me has me a bit… bothered.? I want to that kind of mom.? But frankly, 2 year old games can be boring.? Ah ha! You are nodding your head and agreeing! I see it.? Right through the computer I see it.? For the love of gawd how many times can you pretend to eat ice cream before you go nuts.
But in the spirit of being a better mom I’m sucking it up and finger painting.? I’m making an effort to take time to play with my child.? Actually I’m hoping it will improve his behavior.? So far it is mostly working.? If I keep him busy enough he doesn’t have time to get into trouble.
Monday I decided we would make cookies.? Ok, cooking with the child is something we do on an almost weekly basis.? But cookies!? I don’t ever make cookies.? I forgot how much I like cookies and how much they like my ass.? *Note to self, make healthier cookies.*
Tuesday he had preschool and he wasn’t feeling that great, but I got to be the designated parent to take him to music class.
Yesterday he begged me to get his beans down (which I previously confiscated due to toilet infractions) and I told him that he had to show me he could be responsible with his toys.? (There was also prior marker vs. piano offense)? He proved that he could be responsible and picked up all of his toys, but sadly (as his mother did the happy dance) it was lunch and then nap time.? After nap I was bored and suggested we go to the park.? This was partly to get him out of the house and not thinking about the beans.? Moreover, I forgot that he wanted to play with the beans.? Either way, we went to the park.? However a very large thunderstorm chased us off.? We traded in the playground for finger painting.? At first I wasn’t nearly involved enough in the finger painting for my son’s liking so he said, “Mama, do like this.”? As he’s rubbing his hands through the myriad of colors.? I relented and painted with him.? The result may show up in a header some day.
Today was school again.? But after nap the child has taken to asking us to lay down in the bed with him.? He likes to close the door (curtain) and pretend to do different things.? Yesterday it was a car and we were driving to school.? Today we just read books and giggled.? Ok, I tried to wrestle a booger out of his nose and he thought it was funny.? I lost by the way.? Booger is still there.
Hugs and lovies;
Pushy Comments Bitch
Something about paying attention to them & playing their games over & over…it often helps the behavior. At least it does with mine.
Do not under any circumstances teach the boy Candy Land, the repetitveness of that game will kill any brain cells you have left. Just kidding, I have often said I have more than one child to get me out of som of the playing with.
Keeping them busy does improve their behavior but it can dive you crazy, you just have to decide which is the lesser of two evils.
I second the don’t teach Candy Land suggestion. Oh Lord, what was I thinking …
On the bright side, it’s a FAST game! And you can still play it with lost pieces. 🙂
I’m not that kind of mom either. As they get older I find I excel at other aspects, and fail at others. Their grandmother though? Oh my, she’s wonderful at doing all the silly games and imaginative repetitive play. She even LIKES Candyland.
BTW, I 3rd the suggestion of not even teaching it to them.
I’m not that kind of mom either. Which is why I like having 4 kids – they play with each other instead! 😉 I’m a little sad that I don’t enjoy the long pretend games, it feels like I lost that “childlike” quality or something. But I do like to cuddle and read books or color together or other concrete activities like that. Oh and I will happily affect a British accent for hours at a time… does that count? 🙂
I’d take candyland right now in exchange for learning how to put hands AND other misc. objects in the mouth at the same time. That’s what 15 weeks old looks like. I make funny noises at him while stroller walking in public places if it will keep him from screaming.
smoochies, FNB
I promise you it gets better. The games get more sophisticated, the books get more enjoyable. They make less mess while doing projects. Oh I remember finger paint at O’s age – yikes. Now I can get her paint set up and do my own project while she paints or glues, whatever. She can help clean up the mess. A year ago that wouldn’t have worked without one of us having a tantrum.
About the time R was your son’s age I made a big effort to get some books and games/activities in the house that I really like. It helped.
PS: they aren’t kidding about Candyland. Just say no.
It’s all about being silly, Mom. It does everybody a world of good to be goofy and it sounds like you’re fitting in with the rest of us goof balls. There is nothing better for the soul then a good laugh. O’s teaching you!!!!!!!
By the way, I can’t tell you how many times today I pictured his little face today and it made me smile!
I hear you… I think its the ” do it again” aspect that gets to me….
I swing between feeling selfish & guilty
Gotta love this Mom business
I’m in complete aggreance with the candy land ban, but I’ll watn you now…Chutes and ladders is even worse.
Glenys went to school with a booger we couldn’t get out either. Oh well she forgot about it as everyone was on the playground when we got there.
Beverly
Playing cars or Barbie’s is so over-rated compared to booger digging!
If you were on the floor playing with the kid all the time, I am sure that would somehow harm him socialy. Who could compare with a mom that does at your will? See, you ar preventing him future heartache and social dysfunction!
Thankfully my older two are at just the right age (almost 6 and 7) to really entertain the twins (14 mo.) Don’t get me wrong, I do try to spend some one on one time with each one each day, but I don’t try to stress beyond that as they have each other and are perfectly happy as such.
It get’s easier when they get older. I can watercolor with the older two, draw, cook entire meals, etc.
I think I now understand why my Sister used to call me over all the time. She’s like you, not a big one for getting on the floor with her boys. Me? I walk in the door, pretend to fall on my face and let them “pig pile” all over me. Then I would secretly hand them candy and leave.
Payback is a bitch.
I hate to break it to you, but they still play with cars when they’re 10… and they expect you to make sound effects.
I’m with you, totally and completely. Sounds like you are doing a great job, though!
I love this:
For the love of gawd how many times can you pretend to eat ice cream before you go nuts.
RIGHT ON!
can’t wait to see the fingerpainting! sounds like you’ve got an excellent instuctor in child’s play. tomorrow–beans! (but i don’t like the way play-dough dries and crumbles and sticks to everything…so you’re excused from that one.)
Okay maybe I’m a brat, but I think fingerpaint and beans sound fun. It could also be that I’m R.E.A.L.L.Y tired of studying genetic mutations and pharmacological pathways. Simplicity sounds like a good change. Wanna trade for a few days?