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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fast, Furious, and Frustrated

If the question "Play cars?" doesn't fill you with a sense of impending dread, then you've probably never been the parent of a two-year old boy. Like many boys before him, Henry has recently developed an obsession of sorts with playing cars. I categorize his affinity for the activity as an obsession because his requests to play cars are insistent, persistent, and resistant to the suggestion of any other activity. I have been awaken in the morning more times than I care to count by Henry thrusting a matchbox car into my hand and pleading "play cars?"

So, how does one "play cars", you ask? The activity sounds harmless enough. Normally all it involves is sitting next to Henry, holding the car he selects for you, and scooting the car around the ground. Henry is quite deft in detecting the difference between when I am just sitting there and when I am indeed moving the car around. If I disengage for only a moment, he'll instantly notice and demand "play cars!"

For me, playing cars is like watching a sporting event: I enter a sort of time-warp where the minutes pass slower than I thought humanly possible. I tell myself, "yes, I can play cars for 20 minutes with Henry," and after engaging in the activity for what seems like hours, I look at the clock and only 5 minutes have passed.

Despite how boring I find playing cars, I really think it is good for Henry. It seems to be an activity that exercises his imaginative and verbal skills. He talks a lot when we're playing cars. He'll say funny things like "Hey car, what you doing?", or exclaim "Oh no, my wheels hurt!" when a car turns over. Playing cars is definitely better for Henry than just sitting on the couch watching the tube all day.

If only I could convince myself it's good for me, too.

6 comments:

Stacy and Mike said...

Keaton was on my lap while I looked at your blog and he said, "I want to play cars with that boy". We too play cars and I welcome anyone who will do it so I don't have to.

janel said...

So what you're saying is that you're hoping for some XX chromosomes for Karras Baby #2? (What week are you anyway?) I agree that participating in some 2-year-old activities sounds about as tragic as sitting through an entire sporting event. And how are they so observant about parental lack of enthusiasm? It's not fair to us preggos.

Dynamic Chiropractic said...

Funny, I luck out that I have 3 daughters how are more than happy to "play cars" with Nathan. Boys play cars differently than girls but he doesn't seem to mind. Hopes of a girl will just replace request of of cars to tea parties, or playing babies. I question as well how does one play babies? Danny figured out a good scheme, he babysits and sends the girls off on adventures. Maybe you could babysit Henry's cars in order to move him on to something else.

Kristen said...

What a cutie. I have to totally agree with you, it is so hard to sit there and to that for over 5 minutes. I feel your pain.

Stacy and Mike said...

Mike Told ME!!!! YEAA! I'm so excited for you! LEt's talk this week

Casey said...

Kim,
Flynn and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. You are such a great writer! You should write a book. For real.