23. COUPLES THERAPY

Soooo, Olimpia really grows up. Suddenly, the cautious infant who loved being cuddled by her mom has grown into a toddler who hates being carried!

Sofia: What’s going on, you don’t want to be carried?

Ollie: Mommy, down! Ollie no up! Me no like it!

Sofia: All right… We’ve got something for you from Daddy and me. Here, this is your new stuffed toy. Do you like it?

Ollie: Snuggly Buggly! Mine! Wuv you!

Sofia and Bas went to therapy, leaving Ollie with Rob.

Rob: I have no idea what toddlers do. Do you like songs? Can I turn on the TV for you? Is it… good parenting? Hmmm… I don't know! I literally have Parenting Skill Level 1!

Ollie: Snuggly Buggly no lookin.

Rob: Ah, right, let’s fix that then.

Ollie found a new toy. The cleaning lady isn’t quite sure what to do now. Looks like Rob isn’t exactly passing the babysitting test.

Bastian and Sofia returned from therapy.

Bas: Well, that was… interesting.

Sofia: Not exactly what I expected.

Bas: You run these kinds of sessions yourself, so you must’ve known what we were in for.

Sofia: I only do one-on-one sessions for now, not couples’ therapy. That’s a whole different level.

Sofia: I guess we should start with what you said during therapy, that there’s no spark between us anymore, and we act like robots.

Bas: Well, it’s kind of true. I can tell the chemistry that once connected us just isn’t there anymore…

Bas: So what do we do about it?

Sofia: The therapist suggested we talk about what turns us on and off.

Bas: Sounds like playing “Woo-Who”, just less user friendly…

Sofia: We have to try.

Bas: Okay, I’ll start. I’m attracted to Sims with academic or engineering skills, like me, but also with arts & crafts or social skills. And I really can’t stand slackers.

Sofia: Well, my psychology degree and interpersonal skills should work here. And I’m definitely not a slacker.

Bas: I also like ambitious, hard-working Sims, more of the homebody, artistic type. I’m really turned off by argumentative egocentrics who act on impulse and emotions.

Sofia: Right… I guess that explains why things haven’t been great lately between us.

Sofia: I’m drawn to Sims with a great sense of humor, who are spirited, and highly skilled in various areas, but engineering isn’t really my thing. And honestly, those “homebody” traits… I find them kind of boring.

Bas: Got it. I could work on my comedy skills, I suppose…

Sofia: And I could work on my self-control. Maybe I’ll even sign up for a drawing class?

Bas: That’s a start. Anything else?

Sofia: Like what?

Bas: You know, things you like, appearance or romance style...

Bas: For example, do you like when I do this?

Sofia: Oh no, no, that’s way too much affection for me. But I do like getting gifts…

Bas: I didn’t know you didn’t like affection! Why didn’t you say so before? Okay, what about physical traits? The only thing that really puts me off is bright pink hair. 

Sofia: Well… if I’m being honest… I prefer blondes. But you know, that’s not exactly a dealbreaker in a relationship!

Bas: Right. Sure… I think that explains a lot about why the spark’s gone, if we’re just not attractive to each other...

Sofia: Don’t say that. We still have a lot in common.

Bas: We have Ollie. And that’s probably it.

Sofia: But we can still work on this. The therapist said...

Bas: Honestly, I don’t know how. I just need some time to think about all this. Maybe the next session will help.

Ollie got tired of playing with pots in the kitchen, so, upset by the lack of attention, she waddled into her parents’ room.

Ollie: Ollie sad. Daddy pway.

Bas: All right, let’s play a bit.

It’s sweet watching a toddler play and learn new things. Bastian is such a proud dad, even when Ollie’s emotions sometimes win, showing she might’ve inherited a bit of her mom’s temperament ;)

As a toddler, Ollie is much more stubborn and loves to have things her way :D I feel like she was almost always in a good mood, smiling as an infant, but not so much anymore. At least bedtime is still easy!

And little Ollie loves her morning wakeup time now! Sofia decided to make her a sweet treat, a lollipop. Such a big lollipop for such a little girl!

Sadly, it’s a bit too big for now. Ollie will have to wait until she’s older to have one :(

Ollie: Why Snuggly Buggly sad? Mommy, Snuggly Buggly sad. Why?

Sofia: I think Snuggly Buggly’s worried you won’t want to play with him anymore when you’re older.

Ollie: Ollie no want! Ollie wittle! Ollie no gwow up! Ollie pway wif Snuggly Buggly!

Sofia: Don’t worry, you’ll still play with Snuggly Buggly for a long time. And you know, you can always play with me and Daddy too.

Ollie seems reassured by her mom’s words, for now. Besides, she’s a smart little girl, curious and eager to learn new things (she gets that from her dad ;)). 

And finally, something that Bastian had been waiting for a long time, finally happened. On his way home from work, he got abducted by aliens! Too bad it doesn’t really have any lasting consequences.

While Bastian was being taken by a UFO, Sofia was practicing mindfulness meditation when suddenly…

Sofia: What the plumbob was that?!

Bastian was safely returned by the aliens, with no visible changes to his body or mind, except for pure excitement after this close encounter with another civilization.

Another one of his dreams has come true. Too bad he’s not as lucky in love.

Rob also wants to be taken by aliens...

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