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As a kid, I loved board games, but never played the very popular Game of Life. Now, as an adult, I still love games, though I play more of them on the computer than anything else.
Imagine, then, my joy at finding a “newfangled” version of the game of Life for the computer! But, boy, is it ever fast-paced. With my ADD, there are times in the game where I just get mind-boggled with all the activity going on! At various stages of the game, there are three to four (or more!) people vying for your attention! Interestingly, none of them are capable of doing small routine tasks, yet some have jobs in corporations…just when they get home, they seem to revert to “Mommy’s-at-home-itis!”
Thus, it didn’t take long for me in my brain-addled condition to have dim bells niggling at the back of my mind, signaling that all of this was somehow familiar, though I had never played the game before, on the computer or off. It was probably then that it dawned on me how apt the game is named – Life!
Yes, it reminded me of the chaos that life is with a family of small children, a relationship, and other loved ones, who need nurturing relationships. All of these things competing for your precious time!
I was dizzy with going from one task to another, with some not even completed yet, before another voice would chime in with a request for something that they may well be capable of handling themselves, just because they want Mama to do it.
Lest I come off sounding ungrateful or complaining, or that I have raised spoiled kids who can’t do simple chores for themselves, let me say, I think I get it. My kids want me. They want my attention. They are entrusting me with their concerns – though they may be minor to me, to them they most certainly are not! Maybe it’s a weird (even gross) analogy, it’s kind of like when your cat brings you a dead mouse. To them it’s a wonderful offering, to you, well…not so much!
So, though I am still in the throes of menopause, I am taking stock daily to try to interact with my children in meaningful ways that honor who they are as children.
Photo credit: Stock Xchng
