Oh, How I Cringe

I shouldn't, but I do.

Inevitably, anywhere from 5-10 times each day I hear, "Mom, can you play Littlest Pet Shop with me, please?"

And it makes me cringe.

Now, let me take a step to the side here and say that I am enormously proud that my 5 and/or 3 year old daughter(s) has phrased such a polite question. *HOWEVER* I don't like to play Littlest Pet Shop...or Barbies, or dollies, or animals, or you fill-in-the-blank. Isn't that what sisters are for? Isn't that why I birthed you 17 months apart?

-I digress-

It's not that I don't want to spend time with my child. I'll read you books all day. Come do chores with me. Heck, hop in the shower; I don't care! In fact, I'm used to it! I just.don't.like.playing.pretend. Anybody else?

If we play Barbies, I'll spend my time sorting the clothes and changing outfits. Because that's what I have to do to make it enjoyable for me. But, it bothers my girls. Case and point: "Mom, what are you doing? Please stop."

So, I'm trying to come up with ways I can play pretend with my girls (because it is so obviously important to them) without being terribly annoyed and so they know I love them dearly and want to spend time with them and build wonderful memories.

Here's what I have so far.

Rule #1: I will play with you as long as I can stay in one place. aka, I will play with you as long as you tell me what to say verbatim and I can sit here like the lazy slug that I am.

So far, they haven't fought me too much on this one...

Rule #2: It's okay if Mommy closes her eyes. This one will probably never fly.