[sisteeesmama]

the title says it all, I think.

Are there things other people talk about doing with their kids either here or IRL that you have nevr thought to do, wouldn't want to do or have done and can't imagine how said activity actually works with other people's kids....

For me I find myself wondering a lot when people tell me what they do with their kids, mostly on here, not so much IRL, how much different must they/their kids be from me/mine to make these things work.

Like cooking, for example! How does anyone cook with a 20month old??! I don't mean cook dinner, I mean for fun, as an activity? I have tried it and wanted to fling the pan across the room!!!

 

[savannah smiles]

Any type of Mommy and Me/Gymboree class where the parent is sitting down singing with their little one or helping them over obstacles No thanks! I waited until my youngest was three to sign her up for gym classes because that's when parent participation isn't required.

 

[Storm Bride]

There aren't too many things that I wonder how people do them with kids. There are a lot of things that I wonder how they do them so much. I enjoy doing crafts with the kids, or whipping up a batch of cookies for fun...but not all the time. There are days when one (or both) of those sounds divine. There are days when I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia. It just depends on my mood, on the way the kids are behaving, etc.

 

[nikkiethridge]

haha i wonder how big this thread will get.

i think for me, it's people who brag about how they never baby proofed their house. i dont think i could spend my whole day scolding my son for trying to open cabinets with dangerous objects, stick his fingers in sockets, and run into sharp corners of the table. it's nice just being able to let my DS roam the house without major worries like that, i dont see how other moms do it.

 

[Seasons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm Bride There aren't too many things that I wonder how people do them with kids. There are a lot of things that I wonder how they do them so much.

For me, the how-do-they-do-this-regularly astonishment is about playing Princess. Horrifyingly unfeminist. Luckily my dd (age 6) has never asked - in fact she is just as disgusted by (in her words) "people who think it's all about being pretty and nice, instead of being smart and running fast."

I'm sure it helps that she has never seen a "princess movie" - except the one time at the gym childcare that she STILL talks about (and not flatteringly).

Similarly, I've heard some girls like to "play bride." Very glad my dd is not into that (shudder). I could not with any integrity join in.

 

[Storm Bride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seasons For me, the how-do-they-do-this-regularly astonishment is about playing Princess. Horrifyingly unfeminist. Luckily my dd (age 6) has never asked - in fact she is just as disgusted by (in her words) "people who think it's all about being pretty and nice, instead of being smart and running fast."

DD1 loves the Princess thing. Fortunately for both of us, her idea of playing Princess is dressing up fancy, then telling everyone what roles we're playing (eg. I'm the Queen, she's the Princess, dh is the King, ds2 is the Prince, and ds1, for some reason, is the Knight). As long as I then call her Princess DD, and respond to "Mama Queen", we're "playing Princess". *whew*

 

[Caneel]

Playdates that involve moms hanging together - there, I admitted it.

(coming back to clarify I would love to hang with the type of moms/dads/parents I see on MDC. Its just my area seems to be severely lacking in that department.)

I have close girlfriends but their kids are no where close in age to DS so by timing, it just didn't work out that moms and kids would be together at the same time.

The women I know in the community that do have children my DS's age just aren't the type I would enjoy spending time with. Way too much "can you believe what so and so did?" and "I can't stand my DH" type of stuff - more negative than positive. I would prefer to spend time with DH and DS alone or with our friends. DS goes to preschool so I don't feel he is lacking for kid companionship.

(before anyone suggests it, I do know them, we have run in the same social circles for 15 years, some I have know 20+ years.)

 

[MusicianDad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seasons For me, the how-do-they-do-this-regularly astonishment is about playing Princess. Horrifyingly unfeminist. Luckily my dd (age 6) has never asked - in fact she is just as disgusted by (in her words) "people who think it's all about being pretty and nice, instead of being smart and running fast."

I just had to respond to this. Playing princess isn't always about only being pretty and nice. DD played princess a lot when she was younger. But said princess was smart, a fast runner and always heading off to save people from dragons and monsters and bandits.

 

[Seasons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicianDad I just had to respond to this. Playing princess isn't always about only being pretty and nice. DD played princess a lot when she was younger. But said princess was smart, a fast runner and always heading off to save people from dragons and monsters and bandits.

I wish we knew your daughter! The "princesses" I've seen on the playground, in Disney movies (I've seen them; dd hasn't), and on playdates (one little girl in particular wanted to play princess with my dd's dress-up gear) were about being beautiful and gracious. Only. ETA: and "winning" the admiration of a man/prince, yuck (especially for children).

I wouldn't mind if my daughter played Goddess: you know, powerful in her own right (instead of via marriage or birth) and STRONG. But playacting's not her thing.

 

[Vancouver Mommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicianDad I just had to respond to this. Playing princess isn't always about only being pretty and nice. DD played princess a lot when she was younger. But said princess was smart, a fast runner and always heading off to save people from dragons and monsters and bandits.

Yeah, here too. Much to my chagrin, my dd was given Barbies for her last birthday. Those girls spend their days mountain climbing, parachuting, flying airplanes, hunting dragons, moving furniture for the family that lives in the dollhouse and taking turns breasfeeding a whole stable full of Melissa and Doug ponies. That said, I still hate playing Barbie with my dd.

 

[MusicianDad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancouver Mommy Yeah, here too. Much to my chagrin, my dd was given Barbies for her last birthday. Those girls spend their days mountain climbing, parachuting, flying airplanes, hunting dragons, moving furniture for the family that lives in the dollhouse and taking turns breasfeeding a whole stable full of Melissa and Doug ponies. That said, I still hate playing Barbie with my dd.

DD's Barbie went bungy jumping! Except the string always feel off when tied around her ankles so it was tied around her neck...

 

[BarefootScientist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caneel The women I know in the community that do have children my DS's age just aren't the type I would enjoy spending time with. Way too much "can you believe what so and so did?" and "I can't stand my DH" type of stuff - more negative than positive.

Ugh, I hate that stuff. My problem though, is that I'm not good at small talk and have no idea how to make friends...so we don't have any.

On topic though...doing dishes. "Oh just put your kid on a chair by the sink and have him wash tupperware while you do dishes." Uh...sure. And not go completely out of my mind?

I can, however, easily cook with him.

Oh and I hate crafts. Hate 'em. But that doesn't have anything to do with DS but only the craft.

 

[thtr4me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkiethridge haha i wonder how big this thread will get. i think for me, it's people who brag about how they never baby proofed their house. i dont think i could spend my whole day scolding my son for trying to open cabinets with dangerous objects, stick his fingers in sockets, and run into sharp corners of the table. it's nice just being able to let my DS roam the house without major worries like that, i dont see how other moms do it.

I will admit to not having a babyproofed house. But I have a DS who does not get into anything, and so have not needed to. We did do cabinet latches and a toilet latch at our old house as a precaution, but honestly they were just not needed. We told DS not to get into something, and he just didn't get into it. I know, weird kid. I am pretty sure that any future children will require baby proofing. We are just really lucky with #1.

On the other hand, I do worry when we have other kiddos over, and warn their parents that they need to keep a close eye out, as the house is not baby/child proof at all.

 

[mamalisa]

I hate going to the park. I really really hate going to the park. I'm all for bike rides and playing outside, making chalk drawings and blowing bubbles, playing catch and all sorts of outside stuff. But "LOOK AT ME!" "Watch me climb this!" "Watch me slide!" "Watch me swing!!" Dude, really, I almost die of boredom. I'm going to start sending my sitter to the park with dd, that's how much I hate it. I'm willing to pay for someone else to do it.

 

[Seasons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamalisa I'm all for ...playing catch...

Oh, that reminds me of another thing I wouldn't be able to stand: coaching sports' teams. BLEAH. Instructing eight kids - not just my own - in sports I don't understand or like much anyway? And for FREE? Yowza. Luckily I can just pay the fee and other kids' parents will do the coaching - last year there were FIVE assistant coaches (plus the head coach) for an 8-kid tee-ball team, ha ha!

 

[sisteeesmama]

Wow, I love this thread already!

Things I related to were the tuperware washing thing and then the park thing! I have tried to have dd(20mos) wash thing in the sink, not even when I was trying to really do anything else in the sink. I was making tea for myself and picking up/straightening up the kitchen and she was dumping laddles full of water onto the floor, counter and chair that she was standing on.....so that was fun.

About the park, we are fair skinned and the park is unshaded(BIG pet peeve of mine) and we don't like suncreen so I dread going and wearing long sleeves and hats(which she actually won't do) and then the stuff is often HOT and then if I do get myself together in the morning or evening to take her I find I can bear it better. But I wish I could read while we were there......one day, one day.....right?!

Keep em comin, I think this is fun to see how we all have little things that we do and don't do

 

[Caneel]

Yeah, it is hard for us to enjoy the park.

DH is way overprotective and expects that both of us will be within steps of DS no matter where he goes on the playgroud.

At almost 4 yos, I think he is fine as long as I am watching him especially at the one small playground that we frequent. Having to walk-stop-stand, walk-stop-stand...gets old real quick.

Something I will never enjoy in the future - put-put golf. I am putting it off as long as possible.

 

[tbone_kneegrabber]

sports. i do not like sports. neither does dp. I hope ds doesn't either!

 

[pokeyrin]

Thanks for the thread, I used to feel bad that I didn't do certain "mommy-like" things with DD who is 11 months. Such as I can't stand nursery rhymes, I can't stand singing them or reciting them or listening to them.

 

[stormborn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by savannah smiles Any type of Mommy and Me/Gymboree class where the parent is sitting down singing with their little one or helping them over obstacles No thanks! I waited until my youngest was three to sign her up for gym classes because that's when parent participation isn't required.

That! I mean really, the above is what I do all day long for free!
Dd7's gym kept reminding me that classes start at 4 MONTHS for her baby sister. Until I had to confess that part of what makes the $200 tuition worth it to me is my kid doing a sport that she enjoys while I sit on my butt NOT participating.