I like to picture dads swinging on a long pendulum back and forth — maybe hanging onto an old pocket watch because then it would be hypnotic too: "You are getting verrrry sleeeepy..."

For me, the pendulum swings from home to work and work to home, with the ever so brief pause at the end of either arc.

                                               

The trouble, an old one, is that when I am at work, I am thinking about getting home to my family. And, vice versa, when I am at home, I often think about getting to work. Sometimes, I am never anywhere. Always, in my mind, at the other end of the pendulum path. In an effort to stay a little more in the moment, to be at home when I am at home, and at work when I am at work, I've organized a list of games I can play with the kids that help me to be there, with the kids, enjoying them and therefore giving them a real sense of being with dad.

After all, those moments are as precious as they are rare.

Here is a list of 4 very easy games that kids seem to love. Coincidentally, these games require dad to be pretty much stationary, just lying there. So they are energy efficient for dads: green games!

1. Jump Over Daddy. For this game, dad, you must lie across a bed. Perhaps, you could lie on the floor surrounded by mats or pillows. Lie on one side and become a hurdle. Kids then jump over you while you either (1) encourage them and cheer their jumping or (2) mess with them, flip them, trip them, catch them — whatever! Hardly ever an injury (to you or the little ones).
   
   
2. Tickle Dragon. Thanks for Rebecca T for this one. Kids get so freaked out! Who would've thought? All you do is say you are the tickle dragon and that you are going to sleep...but if you wake up, you tickle whoever you catch. So, yes, once again, dad, you have to lie down for this one *sigh* and even feign sleep. The kids' imaginations run wild and they are actually freaked out. Just "wake up" every so often and tickle the nearest kid. Feel free to squint an eye and watch them be nervous of the dragon.
   
   
3. Wait, Wait, Wait, Go! Here's how this one worked for us. You may have to adapt to your house layout. We had two rooms that shared a closet, thus creating a circuit that the kids could run around: from room 1 into room 2, into the closet, through the closet, and then emerging back in room 1. Outside of the closet in room 1, the starting point, set up a bunch of pillows (mom might have to not see). Model first. Run around through room 2, through the closet, back into room 1 and then jump into the pillows. From then on, you only need to hang out by the pillows. I know, more sitting around...tough being a dad. Then control the rug rats by making them go one at a time. Hold them and say, "Wait, wait, wait, GO!" and then they go running around the circuit and diving into the pillows, where you are waiting for tickles or high fives. I sometimes run around after the kids on my knees, which makes the kids laugh — but you really have to try to run fast on those knees or it's not as funny.
   
   
4. Coffee Shop. Like coffee? Tea? Hot cocoa? Invite the kids to play coffee shop with you. Make fake names, get mugs of your favorite drinks, and then sit — yes sit — at the table and pretend to be at a coffee shop talking about weird stuff. "Oh, Martha, isn't it just so cold out?" Or, "Geronimo, have you done any Valentine's Day shopping? I bet your wife will want chocolates." Then gossip, "Oh look across the street...is that Mr. Hopkins? I heard he was going on vacation next week to Disney." As you run out of coffee, ask, "Need any more coffee? I'll get you a cup."

Good luck dads. Keep in mind, with kids, that new games don't always go over well the first time. But don't give up — try a few times — and stay off the pendulum! Or, you'll get verrry sleeeepy...