How to Be a Kid
I think I've finally got this whole mom of a toddler thing down when it comes to fun daily activities. A trip to the zoo here and there-- check. Rainy days at the kid's library-- yep. Frequent playdates with our little buddies-- you betcha. Mornings out in the park-- quadruple bajillion checks, yes.
But when it comes to a regular old day in, I'm totally clueless.
Some days, you just don't have plans and it's one of those lay low, hang-around-the-house kind of days. And those ones-- the ones that are supposed to be relaxed and easy-- are surprisingly the worst for me! I might as well have taken the effort to drive an hour into DC rather than trying to fill that endless 4 hours until lunch and nap.
What happened to the child inside of me? Where is my creativity for goodness sake?!
I very vividly remember being 6 or 7 and playing "hotel" in my basement.... BY MYSELF, mind you (I'm an only child); just talking and talking TO NOBODY for hours. It went a little something like this--
Me: picking up the non-existent phone "Hello? Yes, this is the KMO Bed & Breakfast. Umm, let me check my book. Nope, sorry we're completely full that weekend. What about the next Saturday?"
Non-existent person on the non-existent phone: "Sure, that would be fine!"
Me: "Ok, let me pencil you in..." (I proceed to actually pencil that person into my journal and make a careful note of whether they would like a smoking or non-smoking room)...
It was really fun-- a little too much fun for someone who is not even playing with an actual person, but that's besides the point. The point is that I am capable of coming up with fun pretend play and all kinds of other entertaining ways to fill the time. I just need to jog my memory a bit.
So I started researching some stuff to do with toddlers online. Most of the stuff was obvious-- indoor obstacle course, bowling with plastic cups, color hunt/ treasure hunt around the house, act out different animals and guess what you are, etc. I was looking for a little bit more of the imaginary kind of stuff, but no luck.
But apparently, if you are a cool dad, you will just think of things like this without even trying, and keep a kid entertained for hours--
Curse you, couch fort! Ok, one point for Matt. I totally should have thought of this. Even the little secret toy corner... Touche`, Matt, touche`.
But I am getting better day by day. I think my mohawk series might have him beat...
So I'm working on it. A lot of the girly stuff I come up with can be slightly altered to become boy-worthy. Like, for instance, how about a dinosaur tea party? Or playing house with lego towers? Just as fun, right?
It will all come back to me eventually, this fun kids' stuff. Slowly but surely :)
But when it comes to a regular old day in, I'm totally clueless.
Some days, you just don't have plans and it's one of those lay low, hang-around-the-house kind of days. And those ones-- the ones that are supposed to be relaxed and easy-- are surprisingly the worst for me! I might as well have taken the effort to drive an hour into DC rather than trying to fill that endless 4 hours until lunch and nap.
What happened to the child inside of me? Where is my creativity for goodness sake?!
I very vividly remember being 6 or 7 and playing "hotel" in my basement.... BY MYSELF, mind you (I'm an only child); just talking and talking TO NOBODY for hours. It went a little something like this--
Me: picking up the non-existent phone "Hello? Yes, this is the KMO Bed & Breakfast. Umm, let me check my book. Nope, sorry we're completely full that weekend. What about the next Saturday?"
Non-existent person on the non-existent phone: "Sure, that would be fine!"
Me: "Ok, let me pencil you in..." (I proceed to actually pencil that person into my journal and make a careful note of whether they would like a smoking or non-smoking room)...
It was really fun-- a little too much fun for someone who is not even playing with an actual person, but that's besides the point. The point is that I am capable of coming up with fun pretend play and all kinds of other entertaining ways to fill the time. I just need to jog my memory a bit.
So I started researching some stuff to do with toddlers online. Most of the stuff was obvious-- indoor obstacle course, bowling with plastic cups, color hunt/ treasure hunt around the house, act out different animals and guess what you are, etc. I was looking for a little bit more of the imaginary kind of stuff, but no luck.
But apparently, if you are a cool dad, you will just think of things like this without even trying, and keep a kid entertained for hours--
Curse you, couch fort! Ok, one point for Matt. I totally should have thought of this. Even the little secret toy corner... Touche`, Matt, touche`.
But I am getting better day by day. I think my mohawk series might have him beat...
So I'm working on it. A lot of the girly stuff I come up with can be slightly altered to become boy-worthy. Like, for instance, how about a dinosaur tea party? Or playing house with lego towers? Just as fun, right?
It will all come back to me eventually, this fun kids' stuff. Slowly but surely :)
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