My goal for this summer was going to be to spend more time playing with my kids, rather than setting them up to play by themselves so I could do important things, like shop online. I'm learning, though, that they don't want me to play with them. I'm no good at playing action figures with Henry. I always try to talk the problems out, instead of solving them with Attacking Fists of Fury or Laser Swords of Disaster. The girls are more tolerant, but mostly they relegate me to tasting their play food concoctions or holding their baby dolls while they do important things like make play food concoctions. God forbid I should enter their play kitchen area. Everyone knows mommies aren't allowed in the kitchen, because I make food that's sensible, like a plastic ham and cheese sandwich. Not birthday cake/pickle/tomato/chocolate milk soup. Jack will play a board game with me if FORCED, but he makes sure I know it's a BORED game. He also hates it when I tip the board if I start losing. Whatever. So, I'll just shop online while the girls bring me heaping plates of food of questionable compatability and Henry dresses up in his superhero-of-the-moment costume and attacks me from afar, unaware that I'm aware I'm under attack. I'm still going to make Jack play bored/board games with me. I just love that panicked look in his eye. I can see him wondering if I'm going to sneak in conversations about Peer Pressure, or god forbid, GIRLS.