Play with Your Child!
by Suz
Please take the time to play with your child. Playing is such an important part of the bonding experience. Even when you are so stressed out that you don’t feel like playing with them, DO IT ANYWAY! Do something to get yourself and your child laughing out loud. Be silly! Be unpredictable. Be crazy! Do something totally out of character, and start making some really silly and happy memories to replace some of those sad ones. Don't be afraid to get right down there on the floor and get dirty! Just... PLAY! If you can start forcing yourself to play (even if you don't really want to)... you will be surprised at how much easier this gets as time goes on. Once you see that REAL smile forming on their face, and once you begin to see that little twinkle in their eye... you will know that you and your child are beginning to connect. So... go grab that super soaker squirt gun, run into the living room where your child is perched in front of the television set, and open fire on him!!! Just remember not to get mad when he grabs the spray nozzle from the kitchen sink and returns fire on you. Just play... and laugh... and have a little fun everywhere you can. If it's anything like my house, the fun will still be happening as you are both mopping up the floors, because large wet kitchen floors are so much fun to slide across on your knees. Just be careful not to do it too many times because I found out the hard way that this will actually rip the skin right off your knees and you'll have scabs for weeks after this fun activity is over.
It really doesn't matter what you do, just start making some happy memories for you and your child. Over here... it appears to be the element of surprise... and SHOCK... that gets the laughter started. I have been known on occasion to do some really strange things, like jumping into the swimming pool fully dressed, chasing him through the yard with a leaf blower, or picking up a cucumber (fake microphone) and breaking out in song as I dance my way across the kitchen. The song R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Aretha Franklin seems to get the best reaction from a child who is bordering on being rude, and seems to get him laughing and back on track again.
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me,
sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
I get tired (just a little bit)
Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
You're runnin' out of foolin' (just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
(re, re, re, re) 'spect
But when he gets really angry and starts screaming out the "I Hate You's...."
that's when I know that it's time for me to reach for my microphone again... and start breaking out in song. Except this time, I know that "A Song for Mama" by Boys II Men... is the song of the hour.
Mama, mama you know I love you
(Oh you know I love you)
Mama, mama youre the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin you is like food to my soul
