Remember a time before video games were invented? No? You’re probably not alone. Video games have changed the game-playing landscape forever. With them, you can play by yourself, with friends, or even with people in other states or countries. The technology is amazing (as are the graphics, as my sons have always said). However, there is something to be said for old-fashioned board games.
Board games bring people together even better than all the technology in the world. I can say this, because I witnessed it first hand this past Labor Day weekend. My son and daughter-in-law were visiting, and we cracked open our vintage Clue game, the whodunnit of the sixties and seventies. What a blast that was!
At first, we were all struggling to remember the rules. Can you move diagonally? No. Can you occupy the same square as another player? Again, no. Can you use the secret passageways? Yes!
Once we “sorta” had the rules down, we started. I was Miss Scarlett. What a dud she was. I didn’t get into a room unless someone called me in. Maybe it was my dice-rolling prowess. I’d swear there were only ones or twos on that die. I switched to Professor Plum with not much more success. I was the only person who never won.
Board games bring people together even better than all the technology in the world. I can say this, because I witnessed it first hand this past Labor Day weekend. My son and daughter-in-law were visiting, and we cracked open our vintage Clue game, the whodunnit of the sixties and seventies. What a blast that was!
At first, we were all struggling to remember the rules. Can you move diagonally? No. Can you occupy the same square as another player? Again, no. Can you use the secret passageways? Yes!
Once we “sorta” had the rules down, we started. I was Miss Scarlett. What a dud she was. I didn’t get into a room unless someone called me in. Maybe it was my dice-rolling prowess. I’d swear there were only ones or twos on that die. I switched to Professor Plum with not much more success. I was the only person who never won.
My daughter-in-law is a little timid in group settings. She’s very afraid to make the wrong decision (much like myself). So, imagine our surprise when she announced the solution rather soon in the first game, and she was right! If she was a rooster, I’d swear she was strutting. Of course, that rang the battle cry to my highly-competitive son. But he was over-eager to win and called the wrong answers in the next game. My husband swooped in for that winner’s title.
As you can see already, the evening raced past in a crescendo of “Ha, ha’s!” and “No, I can’t be wrong!” Our daughter-in-law blossomed in her detecting skills (she’s positive it’s because of all those True Crime shows she watches). Our son, who is too cool for old things, kept suggesting “One more game.” And my husband and me? We got to enjoy time with the kids without eating out or fixing something in their house.
Last night brought back so many memories. I was never one to let my kids play only video games, so there were lots of family game nights. Until they found girls, cars, and jobs. But, up until that time we played Chutes and Ladders, Life, Monopoly, even Old Maid. They were some of the best times in our family.
As you can see already, the evening raced past in a crescendo of “Ha, ha’s!” and “No, I can’t be wrong!” Our daughter-in-law blossomed in her detecting skills (she’s positive it’s because of all those True Crime shows she watches). Our son, who is too cool for old things, kept suggesting “One more game.” And my husband and me? We got to enjoy time with the kids without eating out or fixing something in their house.
Last night brought back so many memories. I was never one to let my kids play only video games, so there were lots of family game nights. Until they found girls, cars, and jobs. But, up until that time we played Chutes and Ladders, Life, Monopoly, even Old Maid. They were some of the best times in our family.
You learn a lot about people when you play board games. Will they cheat? Are they honest? Do they like to joke around? I can honestly say, we all did a little of everything, and it was fun. Taking yourself too seriously just can’t happen in a board game, and it was enjoyable to see my soldier-son loosen up and even flirt with his wife.
Playing board games seems to be such a simple pastime, one that could very easily fade away into the annals of time. It shouldn’t. It provides people with necessary coping skills, entertainment for an entire group, and insights into how your friends and family think. Besides all that, playing a board game has given me warm, happy memories to hold close to my heart when my son is deployed in the very near future. Priceless.
Do you have a favorite board game? I’d love to see if I’ve ever played it!
Playing board games seems to be such a simple pastime, one that could very easily fade away into the annals of time. It shouldn’t. It provides people with necessary coping skills, entertainment for an entire group, and insights into how your friends and family think. Besides all that, playing a board game has given me warm, happy memories to hold close to my heart when my son is deployed in the very near future. Priceless.
Do you have a favorite board game? I’d love to see if I’ve ever played it!
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