Must I torture myself?? Parenting question

[Cindyluwho]

My DD just had her 11th birthday and used some of her birthday $$ to buy herself the board game "Life". She has talked about this game before and I shared with her how much I didn't like it. Even going into detail about wanting it as a kid and ended up hating the game. So, she brings it home and wants my husband and I to join her in a game. I politely say "no, it's not my favorite". We own and play tons of board games in our house, it's one of our favorite family activities. Scabble, Monopoly, Cube Rummi, Trouble, etc. So, finally yesterday after two weeks of whining I give in - I HATE the game of Life! Am I being a bad parent if I never play again? We spend tons of quality time together, I'm a stay at home Mom, but I just don't ever want to play that game again. It's convoluted rules,etc are downright stupid! Can't she just play it when her friends come over? Feelings of guilt are washing over me.....

 

[piglet too]

Is there a reason why you dislike it so much? I personally play any board game smy kids want to play, if I like them or not. I would put aside my hatered for a game if it meant that much to my kids.

 

[minnie56]

All too soon she will not be asking you to play a game with her...

I say play

 

[bananiem]

You have my permission to never play Life again.

 

[Happy Homeschooler]

I'd say it's not worth beating yourself up over.

However, I feel that it's worth it to let my son choose what to play. Most of the time. I don't completely rule out games that I dislike (Chutes & Laddars, for example!), but I do occasionally ask him to chooses a different game.

I feel that this teaches him, by example, to be flexible and make compromises. We can't always have it our way; at times we need to go with what others want, as long as it doesn't go against our own morals.

But that's just me.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

All too soon she will not be asking you to play a game with her...

I say play

I totally agree! It's only an hour of your life. My dd loves Battleship, a game I don't particulary care for, but she has so much playing how could I say I won't play with her? I'm starting to feel guilty with the amount of time I spend on the computer when I could be using the time to play with my kids. Something I definitely need to work on.

 

[Idahomom]

I feel that this teaches him, by example, to be flexible and make compromises. We can't always have it our way; at times we need to go with what others want, as long as it doesn't go against our own morals.
But that's just me.

I totally agree.
We love to play board games in our house and of course everyone has a game they don't like, but it's about spending time w/each other-I can't stress that enough to my children. There are a few games I don't particularly like, but to spend time w/ my children doing something they enjoy is way more important.

 

[Pugdog007]

You have to play it. I played many a game of Uncle Wiggly and it is awful. Life isn't nearly has bad - play it!

 

[Spinning]

Send her my way! I loved that game! I played and played it all the time as a kid. Now I have kids and they have no interest in board games and my DH hates them too!

 

[Hippychickali]

If you hate it that much than don't play it. I'm curious though. What don't you like about it? I personally love the game of Life and I even have the collector's edition.

Ali

 

[MagicalMom]

We love to play Life. I enjoy seeing which of my children will choose to go to college, which will regret their decisions, the stresses of paying taxes when they have 4 mouths to feed. I think it can be pretty educational.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I should have been more specific - It's "The Simpson's Life" basically a Simpsons version of the Game of Life. Not that it makes it any better or worse than Life, which I still hate, but I should have been more specific. I'll admit that there are some days when I hate Monopoly and other days when I love it. But Life, can't stand it anytime.

 

[damo]

Sounds like a setup to me. One day, when you really want her to do something she doesn't like, she will tell you to remember the game "Life". I say, suck it up, and don't give her amunition.

 

[zurgswife]

I'd play it they are only young once...

 

[dturner]

I loved the game of Life when I was a kid.

I bought DS(8) the Star Wars Life game, very fun.

We do have some games that I hate when DS wants to play them but only because they take so much time to set up then in less than 5 minutes it's over - kerplunk is one that comes to mind - yuk, I hate putting in all the sticks.

 

[Hippychickali]

OT - Cindy, you still have your counter code in your signature.

Ali

 

[kasar]

You sound like a good mom. She's not going to die if you don't play Life with her. That's what friends and siblings (and dads) are for. Offer to take her out for lunch instead.

 

[Beth76]

There is lots of stuff that I do with my son that I don't like to do. But, I still have to do them. Is she asking you to play it all the time? If she was wanting to play everyday and you were getting tired of it, I could see your point. But, if it's just occasionally, I would still play. But, that's up to you, of course. She's not going to be scarred for life if you don't play the game with her, or suggest another one. It won't make you a bad parent. It's never too early to learn about compromise (from both ends).

 

[clutter]

I figure that every parent should have a Mulligan. Yours can be Life, mine is Monopoly.

 

[CEDmom]

As long as your DD is getting your time and attention then not wanting to play 1 thing out of a million possible options isn't any big deal. Give her a few choices of things you would like to play and let her pick one. It's important for kids to learn that parents aren't there to cater to their every whim.