Sahail AshrafIt was the Best of Christmas, it was the Worst of Christmas
December 29th 2006 01:54
What a wonderful time we all had at Christmas this year! Princess Toddler loved every minute of it. Presents, other kids, strawberries, turkey and family all rolled into one fun package. What better combination than that? It was also exciting watching Princess Toddler enjoy her presents marginally more than the wrapping paper and boxes this year.
Her favourite gift from Mum and Dad was a barrel full of play-doh and play-doh accessories. Barrel being complete with cookie cutters, scissors, rolling pin and other fun things to squish play-doh through. I was pretty happy that this was her pick of the toys, particularly as I chose the present and also because I love squishing play-doh myself from time to time.
All was great. Princess Toddler had a great time playing with her new gift on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, and the day after Boxing Day and …. then it all turned horribly horrible!
The play-doh has now been brought out, played with, squished, rolled, cut up, flattened, pounded, mashed, poked, cleaned up and packed away at least five thousand times. Okay, maybe five thousand is a slight exaggeration but it sure feels that way. Don’t get me wrong I was happy to bring it out, set it up and let my daughter go for it as often as she liked. But, ahhhhh, it’s now driving me insane.
Let me go back a little. Princess Toddler and I loved making and playing with her homemade play-doh. Clever me thought she was now ready to have some more sophisticated play-doh tools at her disposal. After all, she had discovered that squishing little people onto it made great impressions in the play-doh. Not to mention the joy she got out of making play-doh worms.
Little did I know that the play-doh tools are that bit too difficult for her to master on her own yet. Only Mum can cut with the cookie cutters, squish play-doh to make ‘worms,’ roll the play-doh out with the rolling pin and chop it with the knife. Little did I also know that she would want to play with it at least four times per day. Worst of all, little did I know that bought play-doh crumbles into a million tiny pieces. I am constantly wiping up pieces of play-doh and getting tiny bits stuck on the bottom of my shoes, and her shoes, and Dad’s shoes.
So today I made the brutal but necessary decision. The barrel of play-doh will disappear, Princess Toddler and I will make a batch of homemade play-doh together and she can play with that until her heart’s content. No more mess, no more ‘help, ‘help’ and no more taking two hours just to get ready in the morning in between wiping up and playing with store bought play-doh.
Her favourite gift from Mum and Dad was a barrel full of play-doh and play-doh accessories. Barrel being complete with cookie cutters, scissors, rolling pin and other fun things to squish play-doh through. I was pretty happy that this was her pick of the toys, particularly as I chose the present and also because I love squishing play-doh myself from time to time.
All was great. Princess Toddler had a great time playing with her new gift on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, and the day after Boxing Day and …. then it all turned horribly horrible!
The play-doh has now been brought out, played with, squished, rolled, cut up, flattened, pounded, mashed, poked, cleaned up and packed away at least five thousand times. Okay, maybe five thousand is a slight exaggeration but it sure feels that way. Don’t get me wrong I was happy to bring it out, set it up and let my daughter go for it as often as she liked. But, ahhhhh, it’s now driving me insane.
Let me go back a little. Princess Toddler and I loved making and playing with her homemade play-doh. Clever me thought she was now ready to have some more sophisticated play-doh tools at her disposal. After all, she had discovered that squishing little people onto it made great impressions in the play-doh. Not to mention the joy she got out of making play-doh worms.
Little did I know that the play-doh tools are that bit too difficult for her to master on her own yet. Only Mum can cut with the cookie cutters, squish play-doh to make ‘worms,’ roll the play-doh out with the rolling pin and chop it with the knife. Little did I also know that she would want to play with it at least four times per day. Worst of all, little did I know that bought play-doh crumbles into a million tiny pieces. I am constantly wiping up pieces of play-doh and getting tiny bits stuck on the bottom of my shoes, and her shoes, and Dad’s shoes.
So today I made the brutal but necessary decision. The barrel of play-doh will disappear, Princess Toddler and I will make a batch of homemade play-doh together and she can play with that until her heart’s content. No more mess, no more ‘help, ‘help’ and no more taking two hours just to get ready in the morning in between wiping up and playing with store bought play-doh.
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I've made that mistake. Giving toys that are a little too advanced and then you end up playing with it while they just watch and direct you.
We all know what they say about best laid plans.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Perhaps I can come for Christmas dinner next year and baby sit for a couple of hours and surreptitiously remove any suspect items.
Isn't being a mum such fun.
katyzzz
Comment by Candice
Good point on the homemade stuff - a little flour and water doesn't do too much harm!
And yes, the play-doh tools might come out again in a couple of years time when she can cut the stuff herself!
Comment by Candice
Thanks, I'll send you an invite next year. Actually, I might invite you on Christmas Eve so I don't make the mistake of giving her the wrong toys in the first place!
What's that they say about parenting being a learning curve??? I think I might be on the uphill stretch ATM.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Oh yes ... I have so been there and done that.
For a time, Play-Doh was the bane of my life. Thankfully my son is now old enough for lego and it's so much easier tidying that up.
Have a wonderful new year.
A.H.
Comment by Candice
And here I was thinking play-doh was such a great idea! Should have bought her blocks instead.
Happy New Year to you too. I hope you have a great 2007.