...Sometimes I'm His Little Girl...

I know this sounds weird to most people but it's just who I am. I'm a software engineer, late twenties, with a pretty normal life except for one thing: every once in awhile, I turn into the little girl my partner and I play out together. It started about two years ago after a rough patch at work. I was feeling lost and childishly angry over some project failures, and my boyfriend suggested we try playing out some of those feelings but in a more positive way...like letting me be his little girl again, where he would take care of everything for a bit. At first it felt silly but also oddly comforting to be treated like I was six or seven. He'd dress me up in cute little dresses and let me eat ice cream for dinner while watching cartoons. It wasn't just about the toys and clothes though...he would tell me things he wouldn't normally, show affection in ways we rarely did together as adults. Those nights where I became his little girl were really special to us. I also started taking on a caregiving role sometimes too. We'd swap it up - one day I'm the child who needs looking after, next day he's the needy kid and I become the adult. Being in charge of making sure he was okay and happy...that gave me this sense of purpose that my job couldn't at the time. It's been such a release for both of us to explore these dynamics. Of course we're careful about boundaries - no physical abuse ever, always checking in on how each other feels throughout. It just helps us be more vulnerable and open with one another as adults when we step into these roles. I know some might look down on it but honestly, who am I to judge myself for finding joy and comfort this way? It's our secret playground...