Do you like playing with your young (<5) children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't find it sad. I find it realistic. I was a great babysitter growing up because I played nonstop with my charges. And then I got to go home and do my own thing. When you're Mom, that's not an option. There's no downtime. So you work out a balance as best you can. I do play with my kids quite a bit, IMO, but as they grow older and more independent in their play (and more cooperative with each other), I'm happy to finally get the dishes or laundry done during the day instead of after bedtime. Even better if I get to sit on the couch and browse through a catalog. It's absolutely exhausting and more than a little soul-sucking to have to entertain young kids constantly.

This post says nothing about constantly playing with your children. It's about playing with your children at all.
Why even have them if you'd rather watch television or go shopping than interact with them?

You are not the brightest bulb in the box are you? There is more to interacting with children than just playing with them. I love reading to my child, I love snuggling and cuddling with her. I love baking with her. I love having her "help" me cook.

I am sure other people like other stuff too.

And the nannies - who cares about their opinion? They don't like playing with children either, they do it because they are being paid to do it. And most of them just find lots of playdates to fill their week so they don't have to do it.

[Anonymous]

There are times I genuinely enjoy it.

Then there are other times when I do not. Especially repetitive games/etc that get pretty boring after a while.

Sometimes I say yes I can play. Sometimes not.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Physical stuff--yes. Sports, chasing, kicking ball...

I have all boys so its a good match.

I could never do a tea party or dress up.

+100

I fucking hate pretend play. I suck at it. The stuffed animals are surly and combative.

I am much better in fresh air and active--though my competitive side sometimes comes out and I've been known to tackle a 5 year old too hard playing soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nannies are laughing at you

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/286989.page

They're not very smart over there, are they? The ability to actually read and take away what is being said, rather than what they think is being said or assume is being said, isn't their strong suit in general is it?

If someone has these abilities, they wouldn't exactly be taking a job like this that requires, what?, about an 8th grade education.

[Anonymous]

Nope - at least now I can feel less guilty about it.

I like baking, reading, going places and talking with my kids. I don't even mind doing laundry or running errands with them, but I don't like playing with them.

Good thing my children like playing with each other.

[Anonymous]

I like to play with my young children, and I do.

However, I also need to be a grown up and do other stuff too.

So during those times, I tell my children that mommy needs to do mommy stuff so it is time that they find something fun to do to entertain themselves.

I find the earlier you encourage children to entertain themselves, the easier it is later on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nannies are laughing at you

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/286989.page

They're not very smart over there, are they? The ability to actually read and take away what is being said, rather than what they think is being said or assume is being said, isn't their strong suit in general is it?

If someone has these abilities, they wouldn't exactly be taking a job like this that requires, what?, about an 8th grade education.

It is an interesting phenomenon. Apparently a job that is so easy any eighth grader could do it becomes stressful and difficult once a law degree and a PhD is thrown into the mix. Fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this post very sad.

Oh, please. Get over yourself, supermom. Great that you, as an adult, love playing with dolls and trucks but some of us are just being honest when we say we don't. It doesn't mean that we don't love our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nannies are laughing at you

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/286989.page

They're not very smart over there, are they? The ability to actually read and take away what is being said, rather than what they think is being said or assume is being said, isn't their strong suit in general is it?

If someone has these abilities, they wouldn't exactly be taking a job like this that requires, what?, about an 8th grade education.

It is an interesting phenomenon. Apparently a job that is so easy any eighth grader could do it becomes stressful and difficult once a law degree and a PhD is thrown into the mix. Fascinating.

www.OWNED.com

[Anonymous]

This thread makes me feel better. I like games, coloring, jumping on the trampoline, reading to my kids, and doing cooking or art projects. The dictatorial pretend play is tedious. Luckily, my 5 YO plays very well by herself and with her younger sister. She has never, ever complained of being bored and will always find a creative thing to play with anything she can find. I think that's a good skill to have, and while I will join in sometimes, she doesn't NEED me to play with her. And it's really fun watching the two kids playing together. Now that the older one is in kindergarten, they are both OBSESSED with playing school. I will also say I really appreciate having a young, energetic nanny at home. She is willing to play the pretend games for hours, even completing th "homework" DD assigns her. It's nice that, when I get home, the kids have used up some of their energy and are happy to read a book, color, build with blocks or Legos, etc.

I don't think you have to enjoy playing with toddlers to be a good parent. I always knew I was great with older kids but a bit bored by babies and toddlers. Now that my older daughter is getting bigger, I enjoy her so much. I teach her piano and violin lessons, I help her read and learn math, I take her to the movies and play soccer with her. It's not that I didn't love or enjoy her when she was smaller. I'm just better at this age.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy spending time with my children immensely. We take walks, play games, watch movies, read, cook, hang out all the time. I do not engage much in imaginary play though. While I loved it as a child, that ship has sailed.

[Anonymous]

The book Playful Parenting helped me be better at playing but I still wish I did more pretend play with my kid.

[Anonymous]

If someone has these abilities, they wouldn't exactly be taking a job like this that requires, what?, about an 8th grade education.
It is an interesting phenomenon. Apparently a job that is so easy any eighth grader could do it becomes stressful and difficult once a law degree and a PhD is thrown into the mix. Fascinating.

Something can be stressful and not require a lot of smarts. What parenting requires is a lot of patience. That has no relationship to education level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If someone has these abilities, they wouldn't exactly be taking a job like this that requires, what?, about an 8th grade education.
It is an interesting phenomenon. Apparently a job that is so easy any eighth grader could do it becomes stressful and difficult once a law degree and a PhD is thrown into the mix. Fascinating.

Something can be stressful and not require a lot of smarts. What parenting requires is a lot of patience. That has no relationship to education level.

Also, you can't equate a nanny's job to a parent's role. Whether a nanny does more or less for a child in terms of hours or duties, the parent/child relationship is always going to be more difficult and stressful because it is infused with so many other life dynamics that play into one another and the sheer fact that no one can get to you like family does. This is why so many recommendations written on behalf of nannies include "she has been like a member of our family" instead of "she is a member of our family."