Playing Pretend

My toddler’s imagination seems to have burst into life overnight. Suddenly she has discovered that any object can be whatever you want it to be, if you just pretend. She likes to use the word “pretend” as well, just to make sure we aren’t confused. This morning she said, “I’m just going to the pretend shops with my pretend baby to get some pretend garlic bread. Is that ok my pretend Mummy?” I was amused until she got to the “pretend Mummy” bit!

I remember playing pretend like this when I was a little girl. There are a lot of advantages to being a fabricated mother. Pretend mums get to change pretend nappies that don’t smell. Pretend mums get to burp pretend babies that don’t spit up. Pretend mums effortlessly cook delicious meals that everyone eats. And they don’t have to clean up the pretend dishes afterwards. Pretend mums are perfect and have perfect babies in perfect homes.

I’m a real Mum. Despite my best efforts the house is untidy, my toddler is a strong-willed pocket rocket, and dinner is whatever I could throw together while juggling a fussy baby. But I wouldn’t trade it. While being a mother is more challenging than I anticipated, it’s also better than I imagined. Real mums get real laughs and real love a real lot.

I have to say though… tomorrow I think I’ll take a pretend holiday with all the pretend money I earn being a full-time mum!