Tonight the little boys wanted to play “puppies”. I was tired after a long day of school, followed by helping out at the party for my husband’s office. A stack of dishes from the party waited in my sink….and I wanted to just tell the boys, “Mommy is busy”. How many times a day do they hear those words?
The truth is, I would often rather do my work (crossing things off my to-do list as I go along!) than take time out to play. And when I do play, I much prefer games that have a set list of rules and a specific ending point. But I know it is so good for them, so mommy sighed, “Coming, darling…let’s play puppies!”
Little did I know how much fun it would be….or how simple! All that was required was to bark and pant occasionally, and to lap water from little bowls. About half the time was spent pretending to puppy sleep, the very thing I was dying to do anyway! At one point we did crawl to the kitchen for some puppy mini-muffins…I was able to spot and scoop up several crumbs of food on the floor along the way, so mommy-puppy felt very industrious indeed.
K. and Little C. had been fighting earlier in the day. But when K. saw how much fun his younger brothers were having playing puppies with mommy, he was game to join right in. We call him our big puppy anyway, as he is so enthusiastic and loving, bouncing around like a giant St. Bernard puppy. And wouldn’t you know it, K. and Little C. played so sweetly together and had so much fun.
I was thinking about why things went so well tonight when there has been more friction between them lately. I think one key is that I was THERE. Not in the other room, calling, “You two need to get along!” Not saying, “Take Little C. outside and keep him busy while I do such and such…” Yes, there is a place for that, but I think it has been happening too much lately! When Little C. gets crabby toward his brothers it can be a sign that he needs more time with me. I’m looking forward to spending more time playing puppies!
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