Playing

The grandparents brought Christian out to have dinner with my uncle last night and I rushed home from work cos I didn't want Calista to be left alone with the helper for too long. I got home at 7.20pm and boy was the house quiet without the boisterous boy.

Calista was so happy to see me as usual. Knowing that I seldom get one-on-one time with her, I resolved to spend some quality time just playing and being fully present and focused on her.

(Just the other day, we were watching videos of Christian when he was a mere 20 months old, to see how he looked and behaved compared to Calista now. Watching those videos made me realize that we certainly spent more quality time with Christian doing nothing but playing with toys on the floor. A twinge of guilt towards Calista struck me, but I suppose quality attention is an inevitable privilege of the first-born.)

I had forgotten how to play, having been so busy with taking care of everyday life. I struggled to remember games appropriate for 21 month old babies, and couldnt remember any.

Girls play so differently from boys. P bought her a doll set during a father-daughter trip to Toys 'r Us on Sunday. She was more interested in unscrewing the top of the clear plastic container in which we placed the dolls' accessories, removing the accessories, stuffing that back into the container, and screwing the top shut. Over and over and over again. I lay there watching her, and she was also very generous with her kisses. A kiss for doll's tummy. A kiss on doll's face. A kiss for bystander mama.

I decided to make use of all the empty rooms by suggesting we play hide and seek. Calista surprised me by understanding so quickly what was required of her. She initially followed me as I ran, but I put a hand out and told her 'Wait. Let me go hide then you come find me ok?'

The first round was easy cos i hid ON the bed in a dark room. The second round was more difficult for her cos it never occurred to her that i would hide behind the bed, out of sight. She would call out to me, a little uncertainly 'Ma Ma...?' I meowed in reply and she immediately broke into a deep chuckle. It was great fun, peeking from behind the bed as she tottered up and down past the room I was in after peering in from the outside.

I repeated this with Christian and Calista tonight, and they took turns hiding and seeking. It was such great fun, we should do it more often!