Not that we are at ALL competitive…

What’s on my mind tonight? Games. The games that people play. And, when I say that, you might jump to the conclusion that I’m about to get all deep on you. But, you would be wrong. I’m talking literally about the games people play.

The Parent Bloggers Network is sponsoring a blog blast this weekend where they ask their writers to post stories of the games their families love play. Now, there is a dangling carrot, of course. There’s a huge pack of games they’ll be giving away from Electric Arts video games randomly to one of bloggers who posts about games. So, hello? I could NOT pass up this chance!

You see, I came from a domino and bridge playing family. I have so many memories of Thanksgivings and holidays where all the adults would gather around my grandparents table while we kids played nearby. There was always a lot of laughter, teasing, even arguing every now and then. And, every once in awhile, you’d hear a bellowing “BAM!” My grandfather, who was normally a quiet man, took great enjoyment in slamming down his domino to win the game. And, I guess that might be where I get my competitive streak.

As I grew older, the games turned more to sports and Nintendo, of course. A few board games, like Sorry and Trouble were always hits, and my cousins and I soon got into Trivial Pursuit.

And, then something interesting happened. I got married. And, from the get-go I knew one thing for sure, if I thought I was from a gaming family, I had NO FREAKIN’ CLUE. My husband’s family is known far and wide for their game playing by all of their family friends. It usually is some form of cards, although the game often varies–hearts, spades, shanghai, you name it. These people know their cards.

And they know their cards so well, it can be downright intimidating to play with them. I come from a family of English teachers. My husband’s family are more mathematically minded. Card counters–that’s what they really are–every last stinking one of them, down to his under 5′foot mom. The woman is one of the most kind-hearted people you will ever meet. But something happens to her when she’s holding a hand of cards. While her outward demeanor stays calm, and happy as usual, inside beats the heart of a true card competitor. Quietly, she lays her hand down as we all eat the points and she gives us all a hint of an evil smile.

There’s things I’ve learned from playing with my husband’s family. I will never be one of them. I just don’t have it in me. But, I have learned not to sit by a window, to keep my cards close to my chest, to play with a little guts and go for it every now and then just to keep them guessing, and more. I’ve learned a lot of terms like, “Oh! We’ve got a runner!” and “like socks on a rooster” (his Dad’s favorite saying when he starts taking all the hands in a game.) It truly is an experience to play cards at my in-laws’ house.

Lately, my husband has turned to poker as his game of choice. His family is happy to play along. My son is nine and already is addicted to Hoyle card games online, including poker. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. My daughter shows signs of being terribly competitive. For example, there was the time in ballet when the teacher had her class walking slowly with pointed toes all spread out in a horizontal line across the room. My daughter began like all the other girls, then looked to see if she was ahead and promptly took her toe points to hyper-speed as she forgot all gracefulness and reached the bar at the other side of the room first. Smugly, she turned and beamed at me, so proud that she got first. Oh, no…we’re in trouble with this one, I thought.

At home, we invariably play a few games a week. Sorry, Uno Attack (who doesn’t love when someone has cards shot at them just before they’re going to win the game?, all sorts of card games, Candyland with my little one. My kids love playing online games at WebKinz and EPets websites. And, I’ll admit right now, that my favorite two online games are Scrabble and Tetris. I recently downloaded Tetris on my phone and you won’t find me at a gymnastics or a football practice without my phone at my finger tips. Some assume I’m doing serious business by text, but little do they know I’m madly lining up the blocks. My life feels very orderly when I clear those lines of Tetris blocks cleanly and quickly. It’s saved me years of therapy, I suspect.

When, I think about it, those family domino games of years gone by probably shaped me more than I ever realized. Spending time sitting around a table, playing a game and trading insults. It may not sound like much, but to my family it was and is the glue that holds us all together. What’s life without a little “BAM” in it, after all?

What are your family’s favorite games? Share with us in your comments and check out the other Parent Bloggers favorite games too!