Tonight at bath time, Piper wanted to play “Odette”. This is her bathtub Barbie version of Swan Lake, complete with bikini clad Barbies, a nice Odile, a prince (who is really a Barbie wearing shorts), and evil Rothbart (played by the ballerina Ariel). My role is to supply the boy voices and to act out a riveting fight scene between the prince & Rothbart.
We’ve played this “game” every bath time for the last 3 weeks. I’ll be honest. My enthusiasm is starting to wane.
But then, I remember other phases and streaks that, at the time, seemed to last an eternity. But in reality, they were over so quickly I will probably one day forget them altogether.
There was the month when we played Candyland at least 3 times a day, every day. There was the phase when “dancing” entailed Piper running in one direction while I ran in the other and copied her. During December (inspired by our Advent wreath, I think) the girls insisted we light candles at dinner every night. And there was the month when I read Charlotte’s Web 4 times in a row. Oh, and let’s not forget the “I hate having my picture made” phase (see above).
As moms, we watch our children go through so many stages. While we are in the midst of them, they can seem to be never-ending (Will I ever have a night without washing bottles? Will she ever learn to use the potty?). But with even just a few months of perspective, we see how temporary that time really was. And there is a part of us that misses it.
So, I hope that I can keep some perspective now, in the midst of whatever stage I find myself. That way, when this time is gone, I won’t have any regrets.
Now I’ve got to go practice my lines for Odette so I’ll be ready for bath time tomorrow night.
What phases are your children currently in? How do you keep perspective?
My son Riley is 2 years old and he is currently into Thomas the Train. He likes all things trains but adores watching Thomas the Train. We get on the on demand channel on cable tv – which luckily means they switch out the stories! Though he does watch some tv, he also has a very active imagination for a 2 year old. He can finds tunnels made out of everything. And he builds trains of all sorts – lego blocks placed one behind the other, soap bars, etc. He also loves to cook in his play kitchen. And he will talk to people on the phone with his play phone in the play kitchen. He called his friend Gracie the other day and when he hung up, I asked him what Gracie had to say and without a beat he responded – she wants to watch Thomas!