Thursday, May 31, 2012

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Playing Games

“Natalie, your card says move to a green space. Not red. Natalie. Hello? You’re cheating,” I said, annoyed.

“Weeeeee!” Natalie started moving her game piece all over the board. “Weeee! She’s going to eat some candy. Num, num, num.” She made her piece eat some of the cartoon gum drops.

We were playing Candy Land and I immediately wished we weren’t. This is what always happens when I play a game with Natalie. She gets bored and makes up her own rules.

Tommy isn’t any better. He follows the rules but if he loses, he pouts about it. (He got upset when I beat him at Hi Ho Cherry Oh. HI HO CHERRY OH, people!)

So it’s true. I do not like playing games with my kids. I try, I really do, but at the end of it all I have a gigantic headache. I’ll tell Tommy, “You can’t win every time,” and he’ll sniffle, “But I really wanted to win!”

And then there’s Natalie with her made up rules.

I dread when they ask me to play a game with them. I hope it gets better when they are older. Like on the commercials and everyone is happily surrounding a board game. Family Game Nights! But those kids are usually older. Maybe one day it won’t be so difficult.

For now, I try to stick with things like movie nights. Or s’more nights.

Something where GAMES are not involved.

21 comments:

  1. I really don't like playing games with my kid either...we play Candy Land a lot...and her little game piece usually goes skiing at some point during the game. Makes me crazy.

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  2. I'm with you! And it IS much more fun when they're older. But they still pout when they lose.

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  3. PHEW! So I'm NOT the only one?! I couldn't stand to sit there and play games with my daughter when she was younger. I had zero patience. Now that she's 12, we play Michael Jackson on the wii...and I kick her butt every time. :P

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  4. My kids now play board games with their animals/toys being the players, which is a huge improvement. That way, let's say Tigie wins. Well, Mr. Elephant is not upset, you know?

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  5. I have taught my eldest nephew a few games. Card games,war,super war,and go fish but I also taught him to play checkers and chess. My mother taught him Monopoly and the worst part is? He's good! We literally have to work to beat him! Seriously! He just is that good. I actually let him win,when I taught him to play chess,a few times but now? I literally have to be ruthless and have to be on top of everything because if I'm not he'll take advantage of every chance he gets. It's insane.

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  6. I wouldn't say it gets lots better as they get older, at least not at my house. My adult children still love to play board games, mexican train dominoes, and Wii games, but they are so competitive! And the trash talk?! Well, trust me, it's like a group of drunken sailors up in here.

    At least they don't cheat or pout. I'm lying. They totally still do.

    ♥Spot

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  7. I googled "board games where everyone wins" and came across this. They sound a bit young for tommy, but maybe he'll like the he never loses part of them. http://www.coolmompicks.com/2011/02/collaborative_board_games_mean.php

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  8. I'm all for S'more nights! lol

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  9. I remember those days.
    It was always amazing to see what was so irritating to them when we were supposed to be having fun.

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  10. I have always loved playing games-board games and card games. Love to play with my grandkids but they are far away. Sometimes Hunter and I play Canasta. It's a rainy day and I may suggest it to him.

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  11. Funny, I just posted about the kids not sticking to rules when we play games. I try to let them enjoy the game their own way, and sometimes I see why their way is more fun. For them, at least. But I often have to bite my tongue because I do get impatient...after all, I've been playing by the rules for decades now!

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  12. Just wait....when they are older then the competitiveness kicks in and you'd be surprised how quickly a friendly little game of Scrabble can turn ugly.

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  13. I am all ABOUT that s'mores night! We are good with games over here. But good lord, I get tired of the little kiddie games. The older ones are more fun. Longer, but more fun.

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  14. My stepdaughter is still an awful loser - and she is 22.

    LisaDay

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  15. I feel like the worst mom because I LOATHE playing games with Maggie haha glad I'm not the only mom like that!

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  16. I'll play any game as long as it is not monopoly .... they want to play that game to the end! Honestly who does that?

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  17. I so know what you mean by not wanting to play games with the kids. I have 14 nieces and nephews and I dread it every single time. NOW? it's card games since they're mostly old enough. Let's play Rummy! *groan*

    Yes, I realize we should be grateful for these moments we have with the kids. Yes I realize that you never know what will happen tomorrow, so to cherish the time you have with them and make it happy moments. YES I know I should feel guilty about it, but THHHBT!!! I've already been through childhood, teenhood and young adulthood once, but 14 extra times?! No. Nope. You do it, I've had enough! :)

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  18. I always beat my kid, I'm all competitive like that.

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  19. It's hard playing games with kids- especially young ones! My oldest has gotten better over the last few years (she's 10), but my 4 year old still pouts about losing. It's tough and sometimes takes more patience than i have!

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  20. That is too funny :D I can definitely see how that would be a huge hassle! I can't stand doing puzzles with the kids.. If I start a puzzle I have to finish it. They either get bored and go play somewhere else or worse, they start undoing the puzzle!

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