Recently, my partner’s cherished Saturday morning pancake-making tradition with the kids has been swapped for work commitments, which completely erased my hopes of a quiet sleep-in day. I never truly got that extra rest anyway, but a little hope can go a long way, right?
Last Friday night, as my partner reminded the kids of his absence the next morning, I overheard my daughter lament, “But Mommy never plays with us; she’s always glued to her computer.” Cue the guilt trip. I promised I’d indulge them in some board games after my first cup of coffee. Yet, despite my wishful thinking that they might forget, they promptly arrived at my desk, arms laden with games. And thus, I was reminded why I generally steer clear of playing games with my kids…
- The Sore Loser: Whether it’s losing a game or simply drawing a card after a sibling has just won, my kids excel at sulking. Their tears and complaints about unfairness are generously shared and utterly exhausting.
- The Overzealous Winner: The triumphant cries of “I won! You lost!” can be unbearably loud. The winner’s gloating often escalates until one of them bursts into tears.
- The Cheater: My kids have perfected the art of bending the rules. They sneak peeks, swipe pieces, and seek any advantage possible, which only detracts from the experience.
- The Alliance: My children don’t grasp that when it comes to winning, it doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s not them. They form alliances to prevent the most objectionable player (me, in this case) from winning.
- The Endless Game: Take Chutes and Ladders, for example. Enough said.
- The Backtracking Game: Games that require a player to move backward due to a dice roll or card draw lead to heightened frustrations and endless rounds.
- The Dull Factor: Let’s face it, many children’s games are mind-numbingly boring.
- The Mess: Kids’ games come with a plethora of pieces—cards, marbles, dice, and more. These items inevitably scatter everywhere, leading to lost pieces and potential injuries (a missing card from Memory? Ouch!).
- The Difficulty of Exiting: I once read that engaging with children is like charging a battery; they’ll play independently once they feel loved and satisfied. However, this theory doesn’t apply to my kids. Leaving the game always ends in tears and frustration.
- The Constant Pleading: If we do something fun just once, they’ll spend the next eternity pleading for a repeat. My kids have a long list of activities they beg for, like fairs, movies, and ice cream—if they haven’t done it before, they don’t know to ask.
In conclusion, while playing board games with kids can seem like a fun idea, it often leads to more headaches than joy. If you’re interested in exploring other parenting topics, you might find this article on couples’ fertility journeys engaging. For additional insights on safeguarding fertility, check out this resource. And for more on pregnancy and home insemination, visit this excellent blog.