Why do I feel guilty for hating imaginary play and decorating?
Children's shows create unrealistic expectations that parents can drop everything for exhausting imaginary play whenever requested. Combined with societal pressure to do crafts and extensive holiday decorating, these standards leave parents burned out and constantly second-guessing their own choices.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Why do I feel guilty for hating imaginary play and decorating?
- 1Limiting screen time or restricting children from watching certain showsDid this help you?
- 2Setting strict boundaries and explicitly declining to play when busyDid this help you?
- 3Engaging in minimal play (such as short 7 to 9 minute blocks) and then encouraging independent playDid this help you?
- 4Rebranding personal rest or chores into a game (like pretending to be a mountain or a whale while resting)Did this help you?
- 5Getting off social media to stop comparing your family's routine to highly curated parenting content.Did this help you?
- 6Outsourcing crafts and elaborate activities to eager relatives, such as a mother-in-law.Did this help you?
- 7Finding a compromise by doing minimal, low-effort decorations or traditions (like driving around to look at lights) instead of going all out.Did this help you?
- 8Leaning into your existing lifestyle and hobbies (like farming or simple family dinners) rather than forcing unnatural hobbies.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My kiddo loves Bluey and I realized that the show keeps making me feel inadequate.”source ↗
“For some parents who enjoy that sort of thing and are good at it, sure. Play away. But for parents like me, imaginary play is exhausting...and not very fun for the kiddo either.”source ↗
“Our kiddo will have 100 goats to play with but man thinking about getting decorated for Christmas, holidays, or even adding doing crafts with them does not appeal to me. Lots of societal pressure - is this mom guilt already? 😅”source ↗
“My question stems from the lack of desire I have to do any of that. I have never been creative or a holiday person, gift person, never decorated, just really focused on family dinners as our traditions.”source ↗
“If we left it up to my son, I'd have a lawn covered in inflatable holiday decor. I do not want that, so I don't buy it. I have no interest in that. I do decorate for holidays a little, but nothing crazy. But my kid would be sad, actively bummed out, if I just didn't decorate at all.”source ↗
“I don't like decorating for Christmas...but my kid is the spirit of Christmas incarnate so what do I do? Decorate the damn tree. And the fireplace. And the front door. Purely because it gives her joy.”source ↗
“We also wonder why everyone is burnt out.”source ↗
“I’m constantly second guessing my choices”source ↗
“My daughter seems to be more high maintenance after watching any amount of Bluey. We have started limiting it because it does seem to give her an unrealistic expectation that mommy and daddy will be able to stop what we are doing and play if she says "Pleaaaaasssseeee".”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7Why do I care so much what strangers think when my kid acts up?
- 11Why do I feel so behind when I compare my child to other kids?
- 23How to deal with judgmental parents who criticize everything
- 4Why do I feel guilty for thinking my wedding was better than childbirth?
- 4Why do I feel so guilty taking time for myself?
- 5Why do I feel like a bad dog owner?