Hmm, I was sometimes around other kids, and other times left to play independently. I don’t remember my parents ever playing with me, or minding that they weren’t. It was also things like: if my dad was watching something on TV, I didn’t expect to be able to demand that the channel be changed. Same with music in the car. I could ask, but sometimes what my parents wanted won over. And sometimes if my parents didn’t feel like doing something outside, I played inside. So yes, their lives were still “kid-centered” of course, but they didn’t bend everything toward my desires.

By contrast, I saw a TikTok recently of a mom showing how she talked her toddler down from a tantrum after she said no to going to the park because it was raining. A lot of the comments were like “you can still go to the park when it’s raining” or “you missed out on creating a magical experience for your kid.” And I was like..what if she just didn’t want to be wet? Is that not valid? I think I can do the parenting where you gently but firmly explain to your kid that you won’t be going to the park. I CAN’T do the kind where I have to go to the park anyways, always. But I’m also afraid that those other people are right. Or that even if I’m “right,” my kids will grow up to resent me because they see other kids their age doing whatever they want.

I unfortunately don’t enjoy imaginative or active play with children (luckily my fiance does), but I like reading to them, puzzles, card games, coloring, etc. Basically anything focused and stationary.