Who Can It Be Now? (Doug's Post)

Yesterday, Bode and I were playing balloon soccer in the basement. Apparently, I wasn't fun enough because 10 minutes into playing Bode informed me that we would "Now begin pretending that my best friend Z and his sister L are here playing with us". After getting over being offended that I wasn't meeting expectations that imaginary friends could, we spent the next hour playing games with Bode's pretend friends. I had to "help" Z kick the balloon ball, was chastised multiple times for getting in Z and L's way and when we were wrestling, each time I would tackle, toss or tickle Bode I would be informed "here comes Z Daddy" and would have to mime the same motions with his imaginary friend. It is much more work playing with imaginary friends then I thought it would be (but I was very good at it).

Then Bode and "Z" went up to go pee pee in the toilet. A few minutes later Bode came down and informed me that he had peed and washed his hands, that "Z" had peed but hadn't washed his hands yet (I could hear the water running up there). So for the next 3 minutes and 20 gallons of water, I had to convince Bode that Zeke needed some help turning the water off (he told me time and time again that Z would turn the water off when he was done).

Finally, dinner time and we had to pull an empty chair right up next to Bode for Z to sit in. Bode wasn't eating much so I had to tell him that Z had almost finished eating all his dinner and that he better hurry to catch up. Bode asked Ashlee to cut up his Pear for him, which she did and then he asked her to cut up Z's pear. Ashlee half-heartedly waived her spoon in the direction of the empty chair and continued to eat her dinner. Bode paused, looked at her and said "Mommy, did you cut up Z's pear? Are you sure? Because you just went like this (as Bode limp-wristed, half-waived his fork in the air)." I just fell apart laughing. Ashlee felt like she was going the extra mile by making any conciliatory move in Z's direction, but Bode called her out and let her know that she needs to sell it better than that.

As we got ready to go read books for bed time I overheard Ashlee ask Bode "It is almost bed time, don't you think that Z should go home now and sleep in his bed?". To which you could almost hear Bode rolling his eyes as he responded "Mommy, NO Z's have come to our house, DUH" (the DUH was implied and has been added here for emphasis and to convey the eye rolling).

It is sometimes hard to win in the Bode-Imaginary-Kingdom.

P.S. - Z was back with us right after breakfast this morning (good luck today Ashlee). :0)