Let's Play
...Because...
Dear Cancer,
I love listening to my kids play and the creative imagination they have - I wish I still had that. I hope their creativity stays with them forever.
Over the past week or two, my daughter has introduced a new concept into her play: you.
The first time I heard her say to my son, “Okay, you’re the dad and you have cancer,” I think I audibly gasped. I was horrified. My first instinct was to tell her that we shouldn’t pretend play about you because you aren’t something to be played with. I didn’t want her to tell other kids at school (leader that she is) that they pretend had you - I didn’t know if that was bad or if that would upset other parents.
By the second time I heard her talk about you in her pretend play, I was curious. I calmly asked her why she was pretending to have you and her response was typical for a four-year-old: “Because.” Alright…that’s fair.
I talked with my therapist about my daughter’s play earlier this week and I appreciated the new perspective she gave me. My therapist told me with a smile on her face how great it was that my daughter was using her play to help understand and process you and what you’ve meant to her world. She told me what an amazing daughter I had and her play was very healthy. Phew.
Although I wish my daughter didn’t know about you at such a young age, gaining this new perspective has helped me grow as a parent and continue to process my own feelings regarding you. It has made me so proud of her rather than horrified at the possible negative impact you’ve had on her.
She is a strong girl.
Just like her Mommy.
Sincerely,
Kaitie