"Mommy play with me"

Last night I began the inner dialogue of criticism that sometimes occurs as I run the day's events over in my mind. I felt bad as I recalled myself saying no to several requests from my daughter to join her in playing some game or being part of an activity that was deemed exciting at the moment. As a full-time mom (not stay at home mom, I do leave the house) it can be easy to feel that the amount of time and energy in itself spent daily with my daughter is sufficient. It can become convenient to get lost in the daily schedules and activities that lead to her ultimate fulfillment and not have the time to sit down and get lost in an imaginary game or be dragged out into the backyard to chase her in circles. Let's be honest, the childhood games while often moments of pure bliss and unequivocal joy can also become tedious at times especially when they invoke the guilt of saying "not now." The sobering thought is this, very soon in a future that seems far off now but will arrive much too soon, my daughter will be busy with a life and friends that in no way involve me. Gone will be the requests that I join her in the simple moments of life; I will likely be an afterthought and certainly not the first person she thinks of to include in an experience. So, rather than entertain the guilt mongering thoughts for long last night, I simply noted my revelation and made a mental plan to say yes instead of no each time she asked me to play the next day. Two days from now she may have more independent play, but for tomorrow I will enjoy and cherish each moment.