How much of yourself do you give up for your kids? As in, how much of the the stuff you do for them is stuff you don't particularly like? For example, DS1 (5 1/2 yrs) has recently just really gotten into pokemon cards. I hate them, with a passion. I have no idea how to play the game and no idea what the rules are. I have tried to get it, but honestly, just don't like it, so it's not computing in my brain. He just asked me to play with him. I said no, not today. I explained I had mummy things I need to do- washing, vacc'ing, dishes, cooking...blah blah. So he is having a sooky tantrum. Crying and mumbling about never getting what he wants...

I also hate playing barbies with my DD. I never played when I was a kid, I have always had an aversion to those kinds of dolls. I have to force it if I play with her, and she complains I'm not doing it right. So I often say no. I only say yes when I feel like I've said no too much. She will often say 'you never play with me!'. And when it's barbies she wants to play all the time, then I often don't want to play with her. I will do mostly anything else with them- drawing, building, trains, soccer, sand pit, catch, hide and seek, craft, 'mums and dads', 'teachers'...

But when is it too much to say no. If I had a choice, I would never see a pokemon card or barbie again. Should I be saying yes more often? I hate playing these games, why should I do it when I don't like to, I do other things with them. I will find almost anything else to do when I don't want to play these games(dishes, folding, cleaning toilets!)! Would it be totally mean if I told them I don't want to play with another barbie or pokemon card again, and not to ask me to play, but I will do something else with them? I know it's what interests them, but sometimes I feel like all I do is compromise myself for them, their wants and needs, and now for their interests too?