Division of Play

I have realized something over the last few days. The kids are very specific about what games they play with which parent, though we'll both read, cook, or play board or yard games with them. With me, they play dramatic or imaginary games, anything with lots of pretending or storytelling or a narrative. But with Mama, they play more constructivist (?) games--blocks, legos, anything that needs to be built, also the racetrack or car games and the train track or computer games. (Hmmmm, is this a butch-femme thing?) I think it is very clever that they've realized this because these are clearly the types of play that Mama and I enjoy (even excel at) respectively--the Hot Wheels/Matchbox (see, I don't even know which one) track thingy is my very least favorite toy and no doubt Mama would not really want to play "Mama Llama" or camp out over and over again. Perhaps they just subconsciously realized that we each will play longer and more enthusiastically at games we like and so they just know to initiate that kind of play with each of us. Because I'm not even sure it was conscious for me until this weekend. But it's okay with me.