Throughout my childhood we were a console-free household. Many Christmas wishes for one of those magical boxes were denied with the staunch warning that video games would rot our brains. So our technological fun was limited to the family computer and a collection of more educational games that went with it: Carmen Sandiego (Where in the U.S.A and Where in the World), Myst, Sim City, and King's Quest Four: The Perils of Rosella.
Because I was never very good at the trivia that revealed the locale of Carmen and because there was something about Myst and Rosella that kind of scared me, I always approached playing a computer game as a team effort. My sister Erin took the mouse and I sat next to her for moral support and the occasional coax to call the hint line.
Our most memorable effort happened over the hours, days, dare I say, months dedicated to solving Rosella's puzzle. Quick break down: Rosella is the daughter of King Graham who is dying of some incurable illness. A fairy named Genesta tells Rosella about some magical fruit from the Land of Tamir that can save her father. You become Rosella, suspend your disbelief, and get teleported to Tamir where you go through a virtual story book to-do list, helping dwarfs, getting swallowed by a whale, fending off ogres, rescuing unicorns, helping Pan, turning a frog into a prince, shooting cupid's arrow, etc. on your way to defeating the evil queen, Lolotte and getting the life-saving fruit for your Dad. (The extremely rudimentary graphics of Lolotte and the ogre scared me.)
You are equipped with a limited vocabulary and a satchel to hold the stuff you are supposed to pick up and divvy out amongst the characters as you go. For instance, in one frame you find a flute - you type in 'pick up flute' - you do - you get a point. Several frames later you find Pan crying - you type in 'give Pan flute' - you get some more points. This activity goes on through many, many scenarios, until you get to the finale when you type in 'pick fruit' - and win.
This week, I decided that figuring out the puzzle of motherhood is a lot like the Perils of Rosella. You only have so many words you can use and every day you are tasked with pacifying the fussing baby, crying baby, hungry baby, grunting baby, tired baby with a limited number of props in your satchel.
During the first four weeks, figuring out what to pick up and what to do with it so I could help Mary was challenging. There were no 'Game Over' scenarios, but there were times when I wanted to call a hint line. This week was different though. This week, things just started to click.
For instance, I encountered a fussy baby and immediately commanded myself to 'take baby for a walk.' Problem solved. Point.
I encountered a crying baby; 'use pacifier and rock baby.' Point.
Hungry baby; 'stick boob in baby's mouth.' Point.
Grunting baby; 'move baby's legs.' Toot. And point.
Tired baby; 'place baby in MamaRoo to polish her off.' Point.
Asleep baby; 'use crib.' (NAP TIME!) Double points.
Because a lot of navigating through baby land happens when I'm home alone, I'm pretty proud of the role I've played in this very real quest. I've definitely graduated from the moral support seat. But as I've said before, I wouldn't be scoring as many points without my team, sitting beside me, taking the mouse at times, and helping me through the scary parts.
It's a little delayed, but a happy one-month birthday to little Mary; super special guests, cupcakes, and Fizzy Marys were an amazing way to celebrate how far we have come.
Lo.
