Fluffy and I have been playing with this toy and even though he is doing an amazing job, putting together complicated shapes that have me squinting, he is also tossing all the cards and pieces onto the floor every five seconds and it has finally gotten on my nerves.
The last time the pieces landed on the floor along with the tea bag innards and hard boiled egg shells and rolling yolks, I said, not very nicely, Pick that up, and he said, Not until you say please. Chastened, I did. And then I said, I'm going to my room to have a little break--sometimes Mommy needs a break from playing. While I was in there, trying to sort through the GIGANTIC cascade of clothing strewn about on the floor, bed, dresser, lamp, etc., as if there was an orgy going on somewhere in the household, Fluffy came in and said, I need some time alone, closed the door and went downstairs to the playroom. I went down there about 10 minutes later and he said, I still need more time alone, Mom.
He's down there now. I just snuck in and found him by his little computer table. The computer's off and he's chatting it up in a sing songy voice and I sort of wanted to hang around to figure out what he was saying and to whom but then I thought, what's wrong with me? The first time my son has EVER played by himself in 5 long years and I'm going to lay on my belly like a navy seal and spy?
I want to watch and I want to run. Such is the conundrum of motherhood for me.
Pippy played by herself and I was young enough and tired enough as a singlemom to just appreciate it. Fast forward over eight intervening years, babies wanted and lost, and now I can't leave Fin alone. It's awful because he has NO skills at entertaining himself. And if he DOES play alone, I worry that I am ignoring him. LOL.
Posted by: Felicity | February 10, 2006 at 08:36 AM
Oh yeah, I've been there: "stay here and observe, or use this precious, rare time for myself?" The never-ending debate.
Posted by: Krisen | February 09, 2006 at 11:32 PM
That's why all moms could make really good spies...
Posted by: knq | February 09, 2006 at 11:17 PM
I call it the conundrum of autism. What is real play? When should I interfere? When should I push him? Maybe I should just get him to fold the laundry with me and praise him for that---make that a game! Such wonderings come everyday.
Were you able to get back to the game?
Posted by: Kristina Chew | February 09, 2006 at 08:19 PM
RUN! Okay, no, just kidding. I have that same problem and my kids have been playing independently for nearly as long as they've been alive (there was that 3-year period where Christopher had to be attached to me AT ALL TIMES, but other than that...). They're just so darned cute when they think no one is looking.
Posted by: suburban misfit | February 09, 2006 at 07:51 PM
Actually, the Army lays down and spies, the Navy uses goggles. Just sayin'. But good for you having a time out. I love Time Outs. I wish I had them all the time. Wait! I have 7 hour long ones now that the kids are in school. Woot!
Posted by: Laura | February 09, 2006 at 07:24 PM