Once upon a time, my husband’s Saturday morning tradition of whipping up pancakes for our kids was the highlight of the week. Recently, however, he’s swapped that cozy routine for work, which inadvertently robbed me of my cherished sleep-in day. Not that I ever truly managed to sleep in, but there was always that faint glimmer of hope. And let’s be honest, life without hope is just dreary.
Last Friday, as my husband reminded the kids he wouldn’t be around in the morning, I caught my son lamenting, “But Mommy never plays with us. She’s always glued to her computer!” Cue the mom guilt. I made a promise to play games with them after my first cup of coffee the next morning. But, as fate would have it, after nursing that cup, they appeared at my desk, arms overflowing with board games. So, we dove into it, and I was quickly reminded why I tend to avoid playing games with them.
- The Sore Loser: No matter if it’s a heartbreaking defeat or simply a moment of bad luck, my kids have mastered the art of sulking. They cry, whine about fairness, and spread a wave of misery that’s hard to ignore.
- The Obnoxious Winner: Nothing quite compares to the triumphant cries of “I won!” followed by an exaggerated victory dance. It inevitably leads to tears—usually from the losers.
- The Cheater: From sneaky peeking to outright stealing, my little ones will stop at nothing to gain an unfair advantage. This only detracts from the fun, making the game feel more like a battlefield.
- The Gang-Up Effect: My kids don’t seem to grasp that if a non-self person wins, it doesn’t matter who it is. Instead, they form alliances to ensure the most objectionable non-self person—usually me—doesn’t take the crown.
- The Never-Ending Game: Chutes and Ladders, anyone? It’s a classic example of a game that seems to stretch on forever, testing everyone’s patience.
- The Back to Start Game: Any game featuring a rollback mechanic is a recipe for disaster. It amplifies the sore losery, fuels cheating, and creates a cycle of never-ending frustration.
- The Mind-Numbing Stupidity: Let’s face it—most children’s games are just plain dull.
- The Mess: Board games come with an array of tiny pieces that inevitably end up scattered. A lost Memory card? That’s just annoying. A missing piece from Sorry? Ouch, stepping on it is no fun!
- Ending the Play: I once read that engaging playtime can “charge” kids like batteries, leaving them satisfied for a while. This might be a myth, or perhaps my kids need to read that book, because there’s no graceful way to end our game time without tears.
- The Begging: If we indulge in one fun activity, it’s like opening a floodgate. Suddenly, they won’t stop begging for all sorts of adventures—fairs, movies, swimming, you name it. If they haven’t experienced it, they don’t even know to ask.
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In summary, while playing board games with kids can occasionally be a bonding experience, the reality often involves sore losers, obnoxious winners, and a messy aftermath. If you’re looking for more sanity in your parenting journey, it might be worth skipping the board games altogether!
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