Courtesy of Nicole Findlay
- I was told having an only child would make him lonely.
- But it's brought out the kid in me — I play with him myself.
- Plus, he has plenty of friends and family members to play with.
Someone once told me that an only child is a lonely child. That is certainly not the case, at least in my opinion. My son may not have a sibling, but he has lots of friends and family to keep him company. Plus, I play with him often. Being a kid is fun, and playing with mine makes me feel like one again.
Playing with my son reminds me of the magic of childhood. When you're little, anything seems possible. The bigger the imagination, the better the creation. Leftover bricks from an old gardening project are easily reworked into a road for toy cars, and a few extra clothing items are quickly thrown down on the floor to make soccer goals. There are no limitations on adventure when you're a kid. It's a freeing concept as an adult.
Playing with my little one helps me find fun in creativity
Luckily, my son has a lot of interests, which makes it easy to find things to do. Sometimes, on foggy afternoons, we join an online art class. We draw the same pictures, compare how they're different or alike, and around the holidays, we hang our festive sketches on our kitchen cabinets.
We've also built castles out of Lego bricks, forts out of blankets, and cardboard homes for his stuffed animals. I'm constantly reminded how fun and fulfilling creating something out of nothing can be.
Through play, I'm reminded of my own childhood, and I get to learn new games
At times, I suggest games I played as a kid, like Chutes and Ladders or Uno, and movies I watched decades ago, like "Adventures in Babysitting." Sharing these retro experiences feels like stepping back in time and floods my mind with joyful childhood memories. The 80s and 90s really were the best.
Other times, my son teaches me new games he's learned at school. I love learning the ins and outs of his new childhood activities and, inevitably, more about his little personality. The games are always playful and active, with plenty of wild, creative rules.
Playing with my son also supplements my own exercise, which makes me feel happy and healthy.
My little one gets me on my feet and keeps me active. On nice days, we explore nearby trails, which is my absolute favorite thing to do. We make daisy bouquets, pretend coyotes are watching us, and always try to find new paths to stomp along. We play tennis, soccer, basketball, and baseball. And we take turns setting up obstacle courses for each other.
Exercise not only makes me happier and healthier — it makes me a better mother. From playing ball games to going on outdoor adventures, playing with my son supplements my daily movement. Some days, when I can't squeeze in a workout, it's my only exercise. As a writer, I spend quite a lot of time sitting at my desk on my computer.
He has enough family and friends that he's never lonely anyway
Even as an only child, with our busy lifestyle, my son has plenty of opportunities to engage with other kids. He often gains invaluable life lessons interacting with those his own age.
My son loves being around other kids and has plenty of cousins and classmates to play with. From school recess to playdates and family functions, he explores playgrounds, dresses in cool costumes, plays indoor and outdoor games, and dives into any and all art projects.
When my son is with other kids, I don't participate as much.
If my son is playing with friends or family, I don't jump in and join the action. In fact, I enjoy the downtime. Plus, it's the perfect chance to rest up for our next adventure.