This is a game. You are the gamer. The objective is to rack up as many genuine mommy points as you can in a short period of time. The first level of the game involves a young child — you select the child you want to represent you. You are sprawled on the floor, drawing. When you complete your masterpiece that looks like scrawled lines and blobs of color, you race into the other room joyfully announcing yourself — “Mommy, Mommy, look what I drew!” In this genuine mommy moment, the mother, again selected by you, lights up with love, recognizing you. Your mother opens their arms and gathers you up, looks at your masterpiece and exclaims, “It’s beautiful! Keep it up, Baby. You are so talented.”
There are prototypes of the child and mother in the corner of your screen. They are animated muscle organization readouts, showing you the body language of this communication. Do what you can to match the prototype’s musculature. This level is rich with genuine mommy points. They flow into your investment bank readout. On to the next level.
You select a teenaged persona you want to be you. Select the task you have accomplished, from digging a post hole to getting an A on a special project. You also select the protective techniques you have strengthened over the years. A teenager who is reluctant to open up has a different process to go through to rack up genuine mommy points than a relaxed and open teenager. And, remember, racking up genuine mommy points is the objective. However, the game twist is that if you always select the route of little challenge, your points decrease in value over time. The gamer who can work the range from confident to anxious and insecure is the one who, over time, gets the most point value.
The next level, select a mid-twenties person to be you and the situation that presents the mommy points challenge. Do what you can to match the prototype muscle organization readout. Things get trickier. You are expected to find signs and clues and piece them together or else doorways don’t open and you eventually get trapped. Game Over! Start again. You know, that's the fun of it!
From this point forward, the game becomes more and more compelling. The journey, investing in genuine mommy points, is challenging. You have to develop your characters’ strength to contain needy reassurance, to be their own genuine mommy. Love thyself, all that kind of stuff. Have fun! Build up your genuine mommy bank account.
