Enjoying playtime?

I pledged to enjoy motherhood last year as my New Year’s Resolution.

I wrote in my blog that I would “. . . remember that the joy of motherhood comes in snippets, in little moments like tea parties and morning kisses that we have to grab onto tightly and refuse to let go. So this year I’ll be taking the motherhood mayhem in stride, but I’ll be seeking out those elusive, but infinitely precious, joyful motherhood moments.”

In theory, it was a great idea. In practice, I’ve found it a little harder to accomplish. I have stayed true to my original resolution by making lots of time to enjoy being with my daughter on picnics, picking leaves, playing games or just baking cookies.

But I still struggle with one particular aspect of enjoying motherhood: playing with my daughter. I’m sure this sounds horrible, but I find it completely mind-numbing to play Barbies or “house” for hours on end. Come on, an adult woman can only play Candyland so many times without going a little crazy.

In these moments when my mind is wandering as I’m building my 10th LEGO tower that day, I always wonder if other moms are better at playtime than I am. Do other moms actually enjoy building blocks? Am I the only mom on the planet who panics when she hears those four little words: “Mom, play with me.”

Don’t get me wrong – I love being with my daughter, and I spend lots of time each day playing with her. I just wish I could be more present in the moment while we’re playing instead of always watching the clock or wishing I was doing something else.

So help me out here – do you enjoy playtime with your children? How do you make it a time that both of you can actually enjoy?