I wish I could say that I loved sitting down and playing with my girls non-stop all day. That is not the case. I have a really hard time enjoying a lot of what they (mainly Keila) wants to play. For example: Keila wants to play with her baby. She puts the baby to sleep then we turn off the lights and Keila wants us to lay down and "sleep". Then 20 seconds later we wake up, pick up the baby, put her back in the crib, lay back down, etc. repeat.
I'M TIRED BECAUSE IM A MOM!!! I'M ALMOST ACTUALLY ASLEEP WHEN I LAY DOWN FOR 20 SECONDS!
I read a blog from a mom who adimitted to a group of friends that she didn't enjoy playing with her kids. Several of them gave her some advice that I've tried to apply. Here are a couple of the things that were said:
1- Give a time limit to what you will participate in with your kids (15 minutes to play night night with the baby).
2- Do something that you enjoy doing. For me: coloring, kicking a ball, dancing around, building with blocks or magnetic tiles, and playing with playdough. (My only trouble with this one is Keila doesn't ever want to dio what I want to do. It has to be her idea)
Going along with spending time with my girls, I feel bad when I don't spend any time with them, even for a portion of the day because there are things I want to get done around the house. As much as I'm ok having my house look like I live here, I do like to have certain areas of my house looking picked up. I like having the laundry done and put away. I want the dishes done and counters wiped down. I don't know about you, but when I need to clean, I have to either to ignore my girls while I get thing done, take all day while trying to also play do the them, OR have them help!
Lia has shown interest of wanting to do what I'm doing. She loves when Scott and I are unloading the dish washer. Scott will hand Lia a dish of some sort and Lia will bring it to me and I'll put it away. Keila was watching Lia help and she came to help as well. Since the first time, Keila has become the one who pulls the dishes out of the dishwasher and hands them to Lia.
My girls also like to help me do the the laundry. I will hand them clothes and they will put them into the washer for me. I'll put the soap in. I'll help Lia push the power and start buttons. And that is that!
I can now spend time with both girls and get some cleaning done. Yes, it does take more time but at least I can get done what I want, and I can spend quality time with my girls.
