When I was little I used to love playing the game Memory. My dad and I would set up the battered cards face down and see how many pairs we could collect. Despite being only five I could beat him and was convinced he was letting me win.
Until the age of 21 when I started work as a nanny and my oldest charge, who was five, beat me again and again at the very same game. Despite my best efforts she beat me fair and square.
And then introduced me to ‘Guess Who’ and proceeded to win that game too.
Just over a year ago I introduced the firefighter to Guess Who and memories of laying on the floor with another special kindergartner came flooding back to me. As did the realization that I’m getting older because that five year old is now in high school.
We tried playing Memory, with the same battered cards from my childhood, but even with only half the cards the firefighter didn’t have the interest or patience to wait for a sizable pile of pairs to stack up.
After Christmas I pulled out a Toy Story Memory Game and he patiently helped me set up the rows and rows of cards. There seemed to be a lot more than I remembered.
It took at least five minutes for one of us to collect the first pair of cards and another 30 before we managed to clear the entire table of all the pairs. He was beating me until he realized he was winning and lost all focus. Poor kid has no poker face.
I love the uninterrupted time it gives us together. The chance we have to talk when we’re not trying to remember where the other dog or ball is. That playing board games is something we both love and ‘our’ activity. That playing Memory and Guess Who and Connect Four triggers memories of games with my dad and of the kids who opened my heart to the possibility of one day being a mom.
Right now he’s sitting beside me on the couch engrossed in his latest Lego creation and I’m wondering how much longer I have to wait before he’ll play a game with me.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
so sweet. I haven’t played the memory game in a long time. We have a backyardigans version. I think I need to dig it out for this weekend
It’s surprisingly hard – kids have photographic memories!!
Love this.
Still remember playing cards and board games when I was a kid, especially in winter and on rainy summer days.
Loved playing them with my own kids when they were younger. It’s a tradition I hope will somehow continue.
Happy playing, Sara. : )
Thanks Pam! We introduced the monkey to Candyland this week and his board game etiquette (not stealing everyone’s game pieces) needs a bit of work
The firefighter is really interested in money right now so I’m thinking of picking up Monopoly junior.
Just wait, in a few years you can introduce him to cards – Crazy 8s, Snap, Spit and then cribbage. It’s been ‘my’ thing with the kids too.
I was thinking I could teach him Go Fish – if I can remember how to play!!
The memory games have some magic that makes it easier for little people to win than big people.
They most certainly do!! They have also confirmed that motherhood has broken my memory
my kids love playing memory cards…I need to do this with them more often…put my laptop down and play with them
I’m thinking of Go Fish and Monopoly Junior next. I’m ready to graduate from Candyland and Snakes and Ladders!
oh, this brings me back! My son was the champ – our favorite version was Lion King.
The next movie on our ‘to watch’ list
We saw Aladdin last weekend
Board games are one of my top “I can’t wait until they’re old enough” activities. Possibly THE top. I got some memory cards for the 3yo, and she does not too badly with an array of 10-12 cards. She even seems to enjoy it. But she enjoys spreading the entire deck around the house, as does her sister. Maybe next year.
Try Candyland…I started that with DS just before he turned 3 and he still loves it!
EXCELLENT! I’ve never played it. Time for some online shopping…