The Games Where Mommy (Almost) Always Wins

Kids are quite amusing. Well, at least mine are, especially my toddler. Now that Grace, the baby, is past the stage of only eating, sleeping, and pooping, she also keeps me entertained.

It seems one way little ones like to amuse themselves is by creating games. Neither one of my daughters has ever played a "real" game, yet they are able to create one. How does that work?

Ginny in my chair in the midst of our "game."

The favorite game in our home is one created by my two-year-old, Ginny. When I get up to leave the living room, she will give me a look and then race to my chair. Once on the chair, she will declare, "Ginny's chair." She will giggle to herself and look quite smug. I have been known to thwart her efforts by not directly returning to the chair. If I do not return in a timely manner, Ginny will get up from the chair and play with a toy. The moment I begin returning to the living room and my chair, she runs to the chair, climbs in, and says with a giggle, "Ginny's Chair." I have learned that the proper response is to tickle her into a fit of giggles and lift her out of the chair while saying, "Mommy's Chair." Then, Ginny happily goes and plays with her toys and leaves me to my chair.

Ginny will try this with my husband and his recliner. He does not respond the same way. Instead, he will go and sit on the couch, ignoring the toddler in his chair. Sometimes this lack of response frustrates her, and she will let him know it. Other times, she just ignores that he didn't respond properly and will act as though she won the game since obviously the chair is now hers, forever. Or, at least until the opportunity presents itself to play the game again.

Keeping Grace blocked in.

Ginny has evidently inspired her sister with her antics. While Grace is not crawling, much less walking, she is mobile. Her game is a lot more simple and straightforward. If she sees an electrical cord, she races for it. If she notices an exit from the living room, she rushes to escape. They key to winning the game with Grace is just to make sure no electrical cords are evident and that we keep the living room blocked off with the ottoman.

So far, I'm winning these games. I think I might be in trouble once they get older and can out smart me.