just playing

Play is underrated.

Kids understand the importance of playing. Of finding joy is the most basic thing. Of laughing. Of being silly. Of spinning around in circles, or making noises, or playing some funny game you just made up.

There are adults who don't know how to play. Who spend too much time trying to control the world around them and can't just let go. I don't really understand this. I've seen it, I've known these type of people, but it doesn't make sense to me.

My job, if anything, is a depressing job. People sit in my office and cry and tell me how their lives are falling a part. And I guess maybe its because of that, and maybe because of my own suffering that I value those moments when you can just run around the house chasing after your kids and acting like an idiot. I never once forget how quickly our lives can change.

So today after work, I let go of the fact that I was exhausted and played "duck, duck goose" and ran around the house. My favorite game to play with them is my version of Jack and the Beanstalk. I'll say, "Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of a Bolivian." As soon as they hear that they both start giggling and running. I'll walk slow and heavy like a B-movie monster repeating the line until I finally catch one and say, "And here she is!" By then they are in hysterics. Rowan always wants to be caught and usually runs away then turns around and runs right into me so I can catch her.

Playing is good though. Its a great stress relief for us and a good coping mechanism when times are tough. People often comment on how happy the girls are, how much they laugh, and I have to think that at least some of that is how much we play with them. I want them to grow up understanding how wonderful life is and how to create joy. They'll learn soon enough how sad it can be, how hard it can be, and how disappointing it can be.

The girls definitely have their own sense of humor. Rowan loves anything really silly. Funny animals, silly songs, she loved Chucky Cheese--that sort of thing. While Evelyn really likes slapstick comedy. If you accidentally fall, she'll start cracking up.

The other day, Andre was holding a bag of crackers and when Evelyn reached in to get a cracker he shook the bag and made sort of a barking noise as if the bag was going to bite her--she thought it was the funnest thing ever. He tried the same thing with Rowan and she got really upset. On another occasion, Rowan was intentionally hitting her head against the wall because every time she did Evelyn laughed. I think Evelyn's going to appreciate darker humor. It will be fun to see how much of their sense of humor will remain and how it will evolve as they get older.