Play-doh Therapy
Posted by Dory @ Lucky Dorito on Monday, January 5th, 2009
I remember many years ago when I first moved back from the country of Panama, I went through several months of freezing my tush off. I returned in November, a week before Thanksgiving so it was cold. Especially after living in the divine tropical country of Panama where it was seldom below 60* – the cold was quite a rude awakening to my body.
My oldest daughter Suki was 4 years old at the time and we were returning to the States, sans husband/father, to begin our lives as a two-unit family. Of course, we needed a little help and my parents were quick to offer my old room back.
My mom and I spent that winter sitting at her kitchen table with the oven on a low temperature and the door propped open so I’d stay warm. We talked endlessly for hours each evening after dinner, while my Dad sat in his recliner in the living room watching tv and the kids (Suki and my younger brother, who are only 6 years apart in age) played in a nearby room. I remember that we were constantly doing things with our hands while we talked – cutting up old christmas cards to use the pictures and create new cards, we composed witty little poems for our cards, and we often found ourselves making funny little creations with Suki’s play-doh. We’d roll it around and shape all sorts of things – from dogs to houses to people. Every now and then my Dad would wander in the room and see what we were doing and he’d just chuckle and walk away, shaking his head at our silliness. The kids didn’t find it very amusing, I don’t think.
Every now and then Suki would say, “Mom, are you about DONE with my play-doh now?” and roll her eyes at me.
My mom and I would just laugh and tell her, “Almost, honey. Almost.”
We decided that play-doh therapy was a whole lot cheaper than real therapy. It was just the simple act of working with our hands and talking that was the real therapy. I’d lived out of the United States for 5 years – that’s a lot of catching up to do. Becoming a divorced mom was a huge adjustment, ridiculously hard for anyone. My mom very patiently let me tell my story, working it out in my head and heart as I told it.
I am a different woman than I was back then… definitely more grown up and satisfied with life. I often recall those days with a fond memory though…. it’s one of my favorite memories. That old kitchen table, the oven door open, my mom sitting across from me, and play-doh on the table.
Sometimes I pass one of Beebo’s or Luby’s play-doh containers and I want to sit down and play with it. I wonder if I’ll ever outgrow that? Surely I’m not the only one – anyone else still like play-doh? It’s ok, you can tell me – I won’t tell your kids… 
Filed in Me,Memory Lane Mondays,Weirdness in my world | 13 dorito bits so far
Shannonon 05 Jan 2009 at 7:32 am 1Oh I love love love Play-doh!! I don’t think anyone every outgrows that. I absolutely love the smell. And it is definitely cheaper than therapy- LOTS cheaper.
Guinieon 05 Jan 2009 at 8:42 am 2I love Play-Doh too! lol Isn’t it funny the magnetic appeal it has?
)
thotladyon 05 Jan 2009 at 10:30 am 3Very cool photo. You did a nice job.
No playdoh for me…probably because I don’t have any children. Although for awhile I was into coloring. My artistic side spilling out I guess.
Beccaon 05 Jan 2009 at 10:34 am 4I haven’t played with Playdoh in years, decades actually. I guess that it, too, is because there are no children in our home. Maybe that is the cure for what ails you, get out the toys from our childhood, eh? Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea.
Doryon 05 Jan 2009 at 11:23 am 5Actually, I forgot to mention that Luby did the *Lucky Dorito* in the picture. She did a great job with it!
Jeanon 05 Jan 2009 at 11:53 am 6Luby did a great job! Yes, it’s very therapeutic to play with our old childhood toys. We did a second gingerbread house last night, and I was working as hard as the girls!!LOL And we’ve been playing with Moonsand and playdoh, too!! And ALL of us, especially the men, love the remote control toys!LOL
hugs,
Jean
mitchowlon 05 Jan 2009 at 11:55 am 7Sure! That’s one reason I took a pottery class last spring. It was very good therapy. I was in the class for a couple of weeks before my dad died. When things got too intense emotionally I would head over to the pottery lab and throw a pot. (on a wheel, not at the wall, ha ha)
Have a great day.
megon 05 Jan 2009 at 2:36 pm 8Funny~ one of my very first memories was playing with Playdoh in my room, when Mother & I first moved to California (I was about 3 yo).
I would buy it for my children, but they were never as enthralled as I was
Jenon 05 Jan 2009 at 3:05 pm 9Great memories! Aren’t we lucky to have the gift of recollection? Memories are treasures, that’s for sure!
I love PlayDoh too. Except when it’s in the carpet.
Grrr – Garrett!
Doryon 05 Jan 2009 at 4:47 pm 10Oh yeah… play-doh and carpet do NOT mix well. (Neither does cat vomit and carpet for that matter…. but that’s another story.)
Kellyon 05 Jan 2009 at 5:36 pm 11Play Doh is very relaxing to me, as is coloring. But I teach preschool…I can do that stuff and not get funny looks from people.
Beeboon 06 Jan 2009 at 8:01 am 12No Mom I did the luckydorito thing with the play-doh…and it took a long time!
Doryon 06 Jan 2009 at 8:42 am 13Whoopsie! Sorry Beebo…. I stand corrected. You know how bad my memory is, right?