Imaginary Friends

I have the privilege of being able to stay at home with my daughter. I plan on homeschooling, and you can imagine my concerns about socialization. So it really threw me when Rebecca came to me and introduced Rainbow.....her imaginary friend. She doesn't just have one, either. She has a lot, most of whose names I can not pronounce (she makes up her own words, too!).

Uh-oh. She is only 3! Have I been wrong not letting her go to daycare? Am I somehow messing up my little girl, forcing her to make up her own friends because she has no one to play with? Am I being selfish wanting to do this all myself?

Then I thought back to my childhood. I had imaginary friends, and animals, too! And guess what? I played with them AT SCHOOL, around all of my friends and classmates. I played with them at recess, and stored them in a secret world under my desk during class. I played with my real friends, too. I think I turned out okay, so what's the big deal?

Becca, Rainbow, and two other "friends" in a field of flowers 

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of her having an imaginary friend (or 10 or 20!). She knows what she wants, so she imagines a friend who plays how she likes to play! She isn't being told when to play or how to. We are teaching her manners and sharing. She has played with kids before and does great with them. How can I think this is bad?

Imagination is something most people lose far too early in life. It is something that needs to be nurtured and encouraged, something that needs room to grow!

In just over a year, I will have to share my daughter with the rest of world; sports, girl scouts, homeschooling groups, dance lessons, whatever she is interested in. So for now I think it is okay to be a little selfish, to keep her close and watch her expand her mind. So I am okay having a house full of imaginary friends. It is nice they don't cost much. I am going to enjoy this time with my daughter while I can. The world will just have to wait for this amazing little girl, because right now it is my turn.

"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."  -Albert Einstein