A Bit of Attention

I have been trying to play more with the boys. We go a lot and we do a lot, but I always find myself avoiding playtime. Their idea of play (sword fights) is not my idea of play (knitting). Thankfully, I know I am not the only parent who feels this way. Play is exhausting. It is fun work for the kids, not (always) so much fun for the parents. The boys needs a lot of the time go before my own. Part of it is because of their age. For example, yesterday I should have gotten my butt to the gym...but at the last minute before I was suppose to go...Owen got out some cars and was gently running them up and down my neck, then he would give me a big kiss on my cheek. At that very moment I could have said..."not now Owen, we have to go...so mommy can go work out her flabby a$$" or I could just forget what "I" wanted to do and let Owen continue his fun. I decided on the latter.

Owen did this little game for about 20-30 min. All I could thik about in that moment was a quote from "HOOK" one of my all time favorite movies (if you have never seen it...rent it and watch over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is a wonderful film with Robin Williams). It's the scene where Peter (aka Pan) is on his cell phone talking business, his kids want a bit of his attention. His wife Moira (after throwing Peter's cell phone out the window) says, "I'm sorry about your deal." Peter says, "You hated the deal." AND THIS IS THE MEMORABLE QUOTE THAT I REPEAT TO MYSELF AND HUBS ALL THE TIME: Moira says, "I hated the deal, but I'm sorry you feel so badly about it. Your children love you, they want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? Soon Jack may not even want you to come to his games. We have a few special years with our children, when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast Peter. It's a few years, and it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it." I DON'T EVER WANT TO MISS IT! SO...the gym was put off yet again. I know there is going to come a day when I am going to be running around for the boys attention.

This afternoon, I have been building pirate's ships and Star Wars spaceships out of Legos with Jettson. I told hubs a few days ago, as I was caught up in Lego Land, that this is what it must be like for Dad's who have daughters to be sitting around playing Barbies. The only difference is...I actually like building Lego scenes with the boys. Then I think..."this won't last long and I don't want to miss it."