I love traditions, not just the Christmas ones, but the year around ones too!
One of the traditions that I started with my family was what we dub "popcorn night." It hits on Wednesday nights and consists of popcorn, of course, and playing a board game. Over the years we have grown from Candy Land and Hi-Ho Cherry O to some really fun games that we've just recently purchased: Quelf, Wits and Wagers, and Logo to name a few-all of which I completely recommend.
This tradition has been brought to mind lately because Christmas family gatherings, for us, always mean board games. This season we've just attended a few family gatherings, games in tow. and we have at least one more to gatherings to go. While my husband is usually found off talking to adults, I weasel my way into the teen or children's tables with one or two games, and we generally start having so much fun that the adults in the area are soon joining in also.
I think why our popcorn night tradition is so meaningful to me is because when growing up, I was always the one (out of the 6 family members) who wanted to play a board game. Yet, in thinking back to all the times that we did manage to pull together as a family around a game, I only have memories of one or more of my sisters and maybe- only maybe- myself, bringing the game to an abrupt end- because someone wasn't following the rules, someone wasn't fair, or someone was breathing on someone else! (Close family time can be SO stressful!) I do have to say though that growing up I can only recall two games that we tried- Monopoly and Clue. Both of these games are a push to include parents down to ages four or so- at least without some kind of fight taking place. All that considered, I am a sucker for board games and now have a closet full to choose from each Wednesday night.
It's not all bliss. There are still arguments. There are many times when at least half of us are just not into playing a game. There are times when the game gets canceled altogether and a movie takes its place. Yes, there are complaints about someone breathing on someone else! (I know, I'm too touchy!) But, we are all together with a common goal. . . so, I love it! Now that my husband (as of this past week) has taken a job on first shift, he too will be included in on the tradition- despite the fact that he is not a big game player.
Too bad!
I never knew that this traditions meant much to my kids as it did to me until once when The Bookworm was staying a couple of nights at Grandma's and was very insistent that she return home by Wednesday so as to not miss popcorn night. (Warms my heart! Guess all the arguments that accompany tradition are worth it.)
Now that my kids are growing up, taking on jobs, committing to outside activities, it gets harder to hold popcorn night. But we do our best, even it it means having "Popcorn Tuesday." I hope that as they continue to grow and move on that they will know that the door is always open on Wednesday night and the popcorn is popped and waiting! And who knows? Maybe someday I'll drop in on one of my childrens' houses and find the same tradition occurring, complete with "Mom, make him stop breathing on me!!"
Surviving myself on each and every popcorn night,
Mary
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Field Day or Life Training?
Field day? A chance to gather with friends and family and showcase one's hidden talents of running across a field on three legs, pulling on ropes, and pressing balloons to the popping point between body parts? Or...is field day really life training in disguise for children who will one day hope to succeed as a function adult (especially for those called to motherhood.).
Last week, our wonderful home school group had their yearly field day. It is an event that each of us look forward to. This year, as I watched the events, I was struck by the ironic similarities between the showcased games and life skills. Let's look at some of the games that were played.
First up was soccer. Although I didn't get a chance to witness the older kids (about 10 and up), I did get a chance to enjoy the younger kids play, in what we will term "herd ball." Now, for you who have young children in soccer, you know what I am talking about. This is not a game of skill. It's actually played on two levels. The first level is a group of little kids hovering around a ball as they travel up and down the field in a tight knit circle wearing each other out (which is good, don't get me wrong.). The second level is the coaches, a.k.a., the dads in the case of field day, playing sheep-dogs as they try to keep the herd on the field (this too wears out the dads, which is also OK.). Now, mothers, this I realized is a wonderful opportunity for the fathers to see what is like to be a mother and take two toddlers to the grocery store, trying to exercise crowd control and avoid the coveted goals of candy placed strategically by the store stalkers at kid's eye level.
The next game I witnessed was fire man's relay. This was to be a relay of passing a water filled cup from one end of the line to the other in attempts to fill an empty milk jug. The one twist was the cup was already filled - with holes. What a wonderful life skilled game. Have you ever been to Sonic with seven kids, which generally the three youngest will attempt the cup strength against the red straw. This typically results in leaking slushy. It truly is fire-man's relay to get the cup moved from the back of the car, to the front, and out of the car before it spills all over the inside of the vechile!
It seems the key phrase in exercising right now is "functional exercise." These are exercises that you are to do that mimics day in and out movements. I have never seen a more functional game then no-finger fishing. This one hits home as before I sat down to type, I was cleaning my kitchen floor. And, instead of bending down and picking up the toys as I held the mop and cleaner, I used my toes to tidy up the toys. (I so would have won that game. You wouldn't believe the things my toes can pick up - very functional.)
Next was the three legged race. This was very similar to soccer, except, in real life, your not tied to some. Rather, a toddler is strapped to your leg.
Limbo. I have great admiration for someone who can maintain a center of balance while moving under a bar just inches above their nose. However, there are days when I feel that I too am bent over backwards, trying to maintain balance as the toddler hangs on (see previous paragraph) and the preschooler pulls me from the front. Don't forget that you have to add in all the distractions of the screaming of those who are attempting to gain your attention - now that's balancing act.
Tug of war...I probably don't have to say anything at all. Just envision a mother, a toddler/preschooler, and any coveted object. I could elaborate on this by saying a mental tug of war with older children is just as exhausting.
Balloon relays. What mother doesn't have to, at one point or another, have an armful of fill in the blank (groceries, laundry, etc.) and the the other arm preciously balancing on their hip. I'm not sure which one is more breakable, the balloon or the child. They both bounce about the same and equally loud.
Running with the bulls - I had never heard of this one, but I play it near daily. This one the dads played. They were supposed to be blindfolded, while a rush of kids hurled towards them on two legs in attempts, not to knock them down (although that would have been hilarious) but to escape past them. Really, this is a challenge? How many nights have I manned a darkened hallway, avoiding strategically placed toys in attempts to chase down a half-awake child whose bladder is full and has forgotten where the bathroom is (like I moved it.)
The more I thought about functional games, I realized that there were important ones missing from our field day line-up. Have you ever seen the games were your child inserts shapes into a ball/box? I know this is supposed to teach them their shapes and work on their eye/hand coordination. That's great, but I believe this should be a field day game because what it's really teaching is how to organize a Tupperware drawer. Trying to fit all those Tupperware pieces inside one another and managing to close the door is quite a challenge. Finding the correct lid for each piece is near impossible!
How about this one? Any game that involves your finger and spit? The rules would be simple. It would involve chasing a dirty faced toddler and the winner would be the one who could clean the face without the resources of a washrag or water. Now that's a functional exercise!
All in all, our field day was a success and while we claim not to be socialists, we were all winners. I will look forward to next year's events eagerly. Maybe I'll even be considered as a game advisor...
Barely surviving myself,
Mary
Last week, our wonderful home school group had their yearly field day. It is an event that each of us look forward to. This year, as I watched the events, I was struck by the ironic similarities between the showcased games and life skills. Let's look at some of the games that were played.
First up was soccer. Although I didn't get a chance to witness the older kids (about 10 and up), I did get a chance to enjoy the younger kids play, in what we will term "herd ball." Now, for you who have young children in soccer, you know what I am talking about. This is not a game of skill. It's actually played on two levels. The first level is a group of little kids hovering around a ball as they travel up and down the field in a tight knit circle wearing each other out (which is good, don't get me wrong.). The second level is the coaches, a.k.a., the dads in the case of field day, playing sheep-dogs as they try to keep the herd on the field (this too wears out the dads, which is also OK.). Now, mothers, this I realized is a wonderful opportunity for the fathers to see what is like to be a mother and take two toddlers to the grocery store, trying to exercise crowd control and avoid the coveted goals of candy placed strategically by the store stalkers at kid's eye level.
The next game I witnessed was fire man's relay. This was to be a relay of passing a water filled cup from one end of the line to the other in attempts to fill an empty milk jug. The one twist was the cup was already filled - with holes. What a wonderful life skilled game. Have you ever been to Sonic with seven kids, which generally the three youngest will attempt the cup strength against the red straw. This typically results in leaking slushy. It truly is fire-man's relay to get the cup moved from the back of the car, to the front, and out of the car before it spills all over the inside of the vechile!
It seems the key phrase in exercising right now is "functional exercise." These are exercises that you are to do that mimics day in and out movements. I have never seen a more functional game then no-finger fishing. This one hits home as before I sat down to type, I was cleaning my kitchen floor. And, instead of bending down and picking up the toys as I held the mop and cleaner, I used my toes to tidy up the toys. (I so would have won that game. You wouldn't believe the things my toes can pick up - very functional.)
Next was the three legged race. This was very similar to soccer, except, in real life, your not tied to some. Rather, a toddler is strapped to your leg.
Limbo. I have great admiration for someone who can maintain a center of balance while moving under a bar just inches above their nose. However, there are days when I feel that I too am bent over backwards, trying to maintain balance as the toddler hangs on (see previous paragraph) and the preschooler pulls me from the front. Don't forget that you have to add in all the distractions of the screaming of those who are attempting to gain your attention - now that's balancing act.
Tug of war...I probably don't have to say anything at all. Just envision a mother, a toddler/preschooler, and any coveted object. I could elaborate on this by saying a mental tug of war with older children is just as exhausting.
Balloon relays. What mother doesn't have to, at one point or another, have an armful of fill in the blank (groceries, laundry, etc.) and the the other arm preciously balancing on their hip. I'm not sure which one is more breakable, the balloon or the child. They both bounce about the same and equally loud.
Running with the bulls - I had never heard of this one, but I play it near daily. This one the dads played. They were supposed to be blindfolded, while a rush of kids hurled towards them on two legs in attempts, not to knock them down (although that would have been hilarious) but to escape past them. Really, this is a challenge? How many nights have I manned a darkened hallway, avoiding strategically placed toys in attempts to chase down a half-awake child whose bladder is full and has forgotten where the bathroom is (like I moved it.)
The more I thought about functional games, I realized that there were important ones missing from our field day line-up. Have you ever seen the games were your child inserts shapes into a ball/box? I know this is supposed to teach them their shapes and work on their eye/hand coordination. That's great, but I believe this should be a field day game because what it's really teaching is how to organize a Tupperware drawer. Trying to fit all those Tupperware pieces inside one another and managing to close the door is quite a challenge. Finding the correct lid for each piece is near impossible!
How about this one? Any game that involves your finger and spit? The rules would be simple. It would involve chasing a dirty faced toddler and the winner would be the one who could clean the face without the resources of a washrag or water. Now that's a functional exercise!
All in all, our field day was a success and while we claim not to be socialists, we were all winners. I will look forward to next year's events eagerly. Maybe I'll even be considered as a game advisor...
Barely surviving myself,
Mary
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