How Much Time Do You Spend Interacting?

[Spectra]

I am curious.  How much time do you spend interacting with your toddler?  Playing, crafts, reading, etc? 

I feel guilty that I'm not spending enough time with them.  I am stay at home, but I find I can't play "princesses" for a long period without getting bored and wanting to sit and have a coffee.  I know also that them playing together and by themselves is a good thing, but I don't want to feel like I'm ignoring them.  Sometimes I'm just so tired that I have no energy to run around the house playing.  But I think I need to do more and was curious what other people's days looked like.   

[Mimi 2]

Hmmm....on an average day, I would say at least 3-4hrs but broken down into 15-30 min increments.  I tend to sneak in some housework or meal prep as I play with dd and ds.  It's probably not *ideal* but they don't mind too much.  If anything, they think that's it a new game and wants to help.  Most of the time they are fine playing with each other.  A big chunk of that time is during the bedtime routine.  We spend about 45-60 min just playing & reading in dd's room after bath.  It is the best part of the day for me, even if I had a crabby day earlier.  And yes, it also means that they will be sleeping soon. 

[nona]

i feel the same way. this is common! DS will not play himself or craft by himself. i have to do everything with him (usually with him sitting in my lap!). he doesn't play with his toys unless i am playing with him. so, he pretty much shadows me around the house. he is now an expert vacuum-er!  we get out of the house almost every morning doing playdates, parks, library, etc. some times we do hang in our PJs and sometimes I am watching alot of HGTV  .  anyway, i'm with him all day (except nap) but we aren't always playing.

i have to remind myself it is the quality of time vs the quantity of time that matters.

[Aly Mac]

I second heather there - quality not quantity.  so you could schedule some time. even tell them 'we are going to do this now for a while, then we are going to do x'. x being snack/lunch something that requires them to help you or by themselves. 

I also find it increasingly tiring and difficult all round to 'play' with L all the time (as a sahm i found that i felt guilty for wanting an easier day ie: at home, easy games etc), and have found if I schedule stuff it works much better. nothing hard and fast, but if you do that, esp early in the day (to fill their mummy cup), it makes the rest of the day so much easier, and you at least don't feel like you havne't done anythign with them kwim?

[Mimi 2]

I second heather there - quality not quantity.  so you could schedule some time. even tell them 'we are going to do this now for a while, then we are going to do x'. x being snack/lunch something that requires them to help you or by themselves. 

Yes I think that we put too much emphasis on having constant active play.  Sometimes just sitting and telling jokes or vegging out is just as fun for them.  DH has invented a new game where dd has to sing him & her stuff animals to sleep.  She's pretty good at it as he actually falls asleep (count on dh to find any excuse to take a 5-10 min snooze   )

I find I can't play "princesses" for a long period without getting bored and wanting to sit and have a coffee. 

How about inventing a game where the princesses sit for afternoon tea/coffee?  DD would get her "tea" and you get your coffee. 

[Spectra]

Hehe, that's a lot of great ideas!!  Thank you everyone for all your responses!

[nona]

that is a good idea mimi 2. i had a friend and her little boy had coffee w/ her in his special mini mug & saucer (milk or chocolate milk) that she served w/ chocolate teddy grahams. however, i understand just drinking the coffee in peace!  i don't think i finished mine this morning!!!!

your DH sounds like mine. anytime he rocks DS, he falls asleep. last night came home and they both had been asleep for about 1.5 hrs in the rocking chair.

[Spectra]

lol  If I try that my daughter will scream, "Wake up, Mama!!!"  Whereas if my husband falls asleep on the couch she comes over to me and says, "Wake up, Mama!"  And I say, "Daddy's sleeping, go wake him up."  And she's like, "Nooooo!"

He's got her trained good.  lol

[Mimi 2]

lol

Speaking of training, dd is training ds to retrieve HER toys.  She calls him her Special Helper.  I wonder how it's going to last. 

[Spectra]

lol too funny!

[sweetpeajan]

I feel guilty about that too, but there is so much to get down in the day. I have two days where we have organised activities, swimming and gymbaroo where we spend quality time together. Most of our time at home is him following me around the house and we enjoy our meal times together. I think I am going to try one 15-30 minute session of play in the morning from now on the days we don't have a fixed outing. We could play in the sand pit,play on his equipment outside, read some books, do some dancing/exercise together, go for a walk to the park. That would be fun for both of us

[*~goldie~*]

we go to a play group every morning then we meet someone for a coffee (so she gets something then i get something)so we go out everday like 9-11.30 then she has lunch and a nap so I try do all my housework whilst she's asleep, we have about 20 minutes of story time in the afternoon where she gets a story and I get a mug of tea whilst I read, we have about the same amount of music time where she has loads of shakers , drums,zylaphone,keyboard, guitar, whilst i play piano or my violin , we do some dance time whilst i do my aerobics to music dvd and she dances with me and we go to the pak everday before daddy gets in from work about 4/4.30 and usually meet freinds there. You see I try to encorparate everything so she's gaining whilst Im gaining. That way I dont really see it as time for just her its time for us both.... and if i have chores to do we normally find something fun in it for her to do. I normally just have one session a day about 30 minuter shere we sit and play with toys together, but I put some music or the TV on to  keep me entertained.
xx