I’m sure that all of us in our younger years said, “I can’t wait to be big.” And now looking back, I’m sure we have changed our minds and said,”I wish I was a kid.” I’m guilty for sure. Some days, you just wish that you could run from your responsibilities and play with your friends. Well, tonight, despite my initial refusal to play hide and seek, I was reminded about how much fun simple kid games are.
I have a nephew that I try to see and entertain once or twice a week. We like to do “projects” together. Could be planting terrariums like you’ve seen me post or making cookies. Doing crafts. Anything to try to keep him occupied and having fun. It’s our bonding time. Some nights he can sit and do them with me hour after hour. Other nights, before we even get started, he is trying to get 17 other games going.
Tonight, I didn’t come prepared. Work ran late, and I didn’t have time to get our St. Patrick’s day craft supplies. But of course, little man being kid creative as he is, grabbed a box and told me what we could turn it into because “we have to do a project Auntie!”
I asked him what he wanted to make, and we settled on a spaceship. Took all of about 2 cuts of scissors and a few staples for him to move on tonight. I, of course, had to finish the spaceship. I’ll admit not my best work, but hey, my helper left. But while I was gluing craft paper to a box, he must have asked me 20 times to play hide and seek.
If you have ever played hide and seek with a kid under the age of, let’s say, 8, you don’t have to count or look because you know exactly where they are. They can’t help but giggle or wiggle or say, “Come find me.” Not to mention they haven’t learned the good spots to hide. And once they think they have an ok spot under the covers, they keep going back to it.
My sis told Booger that we would play after our project, and when I say there is no escaping, I mean it. He is relentless. So I caved and started the counting. Not really paying attention, just random numbers til I said, “Ready or not, here I come.” I heard his loud feet up the stairs and heard him ask mom to cover him up. Even heard the giggles. But you can’t let a kid down and grab them right away. You have to pretend to look. “He’s not in the bathroom. He’s not in the closet.”
Just enough to distract him and goose him! If I find you, you get tickled 🙂 Of course I won, but now I had to hide. But I am much wiser and practiced in the ways of hide and seek. I don’t make it easy, I sneak and whisper, hide in places I know he won’t look. The second time around, he called for backup. I was in the spate room closet listening to him yell, Auntie! Come on, Auntie! Where are you?” Mom helped find me, but you know where he hid next? Exactly where I was.
They may not be the greatest at it. They may not catch on to the best hiding spots. And you know where they will be if you show them a good one. But hiding and anticipating them finding you or you surprise attacking for a tickle fight is just fun. They make up rules as they go, and each time, no matter who is seeking or who is finding, the round is won by giggles.
Sadly, growing up, we get so banged up by the world. We don’t get to laugh and play. We get to work and pay. We lose that sense of silliness and let the responsibilities of life bring us down. I encourage you this week to do something silly. Monday is over on this daylight savings time week. What fun activity can you add to bring back some life into your step? Can you take ten minutes to ride the swings in the park? Or find some chalk and color your sidewalk? Do something this week that you loved to do as a kid and see just how quick your mood changes. I double dog dare ya!!
The Distracted Damsel 