My friend, Alison of Writing, Wishing wrote a post last week for Mamalode called, Can We Just Play? about taking a break from all the screen time and being in the moment and well, playing. It brought back so many memories for me of playing games with my friends, cousins and especially mom and dad.
So many good memories of a simpler time, of real conversation and good old fashion fun.
As far back as I can remember, my parents hosted game nights and until I was old enough to play along, I would watch as the adults strategized, stole from the bank, bartered, became giddy with greed, displayed their fierce competitive streak and in equal measure, their admirable sportsmanship. They often got drunk and silly and always laughed the night away.
Playing games together was so much more than Monopoly, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Acquire, UNO or 21 (all favorites in my family), it was a time to connect, share, bond and always beat staring at the television. Some of our very best family discussions occurred on game nights.
My mom always had a deck (or four, as 21 required) of cards on her and travel-sized versions of our best-loved games to take along on vacations, a practice I still keep. My husband and I brought Rummikub along with us on our honeymoon.
I have always loved playing board games and cards and I am trying to teach Lucas to love them too. We’ve been playing Go Fish, Crazy 8’s, Memory, High/Low, Candy Land, Connect 4 and Chutes & Ladders since he turned three. As soon as he turned four, I taught him how to play UNO (open-faced for now) and he’s really good at it! Just today, I bought Sorry, which he may be a little young for yet, but he enjoyed learning something new.
He’s not always a good sport, but after his opponent wins, nothing makes me prouder than hearing Lucas say, “That was a good game, Mommy, do you want to play again?” The answer is always an enthusiastic “Yes!”.
