The Games We Play

(this is by Ryan...you'll be able to tell because it gets a little violent near the end.--Jessica)

It is a lot of fun having your kids get old enough to play games with you that don't make you want to gauge your eyeballs out where try as you might, you can never get to the end (i.e. Candyland, Chutes&Ladders, Trouble, Sorry, etc.). They constantly taunt you by making you think someone is about to win and thus end the game. Yet, just as the end is within grasp the rug gets pulled out from under you.

The main problem is that my ability to hold my temper with people forgetting to keep going, or crying because of a cruel turn of fate, or fistfighting over poleposition in a game is similar to my ability to hold my bladder. I can gear myself up to manage the discomfort as long as I need to. However, I have to gear up for it. Oddly, when the end is in sight, your body intuitively starts to know that it is near and all of the sudden every sinew is required to keep from exploding due to the the long displayed restraint. Whether it be a rest stop on a long road trip or the end of a long played kids game, the intensity of feeling is much the same.

Luckily Blokus is nothing like those other teases. It marches toward a tangible end in a forthright manner. It is fun and interesting and even though the 50% of the conversation consists of "who's turn is it?" "Did you go yet?" etc. We still love it. Jessica beat us all by a landslide tonight. But Gabe and Emma held their own. I love the game and love playing something fun like that as a family.

So next time your kids smack down a "SORRY" on you just as you approach the home stretch, don't push your 4 little blue guys into the laughing to tears, eye sockets of the 5 year old across from you. Simply tell your kids you need to go to the bathroom, then drive to Walmart and pickup Blokus. By the time you get back every one will either be searching for you in tears wishing they hadn't stuck you with the SORRY card or more likely they will be watching TV unaware that you even left. Either way, you didn't have to finish the game.