Game nights

How is it that so many adults have no idea how to play some of the most basic old-school games? Chess, backgammon, and cribbage are three that immediately come to mind. I guess I always assumed everyone grew up knowing how to play them! Apparently, I was wrong.

Heck, I remember teaching my kids to play chess when they were toddlers. Obviously, we eased into the rules slowly, but by the time each of them was five, they knew how to play. My dad used to visit often, and he loved pulling out the cribbage board to play with my son. Those are the kinds of memories that stick with you, and I love that something as simple as a deck of cards and a little wooden board can bring generations together.

Growing up, games were a regular part of life in our house. Didn't everyone have family game nights? We played all the time! Being one of four kids, all within a year of each other, meant we had a built-in crew for just about any board game. And let me tell you, Monopoly could get downright EPIC. We had harsh house rules, cutthroat strategies, and absolutely no mercy. The hard knock life of a younger sibling teaching me to hold my own.

I carried that tradition right into raising my own three kids. We used to play games daily, and we still do whenever we get the chance to be together. My older grandsons look forward to playing a game or two... or three... every time the family gathers. They've also learned an important lesson: there is no taking it easy on someone just because they're younger. Around here, once the game begins, it's every player for themselves! Grandma plays to win, too.

Recently, I've been amazed talking with friends who never learned some of these games. How did that happen? Were they not playing games growing up? Were their families too busy, or did everyone just have different traditions? I suppose not every household operated like ours, but it does make me wonder how these wonderful games will be passed along if nobody takes the time to teach them.

I've already introduced one friend to backgammon, and now she plays it with her daughter every day. YAY! That's exactly what I'm talking about. One little introduction to an old-fashioned game has turned into a new daily ritual between mother and daughter. You can't put a price on that kind of connection.

Naturally, this has me thinking that I may need to organize a few game-teaching nights to go along with my Mahjong nights. Apparently, I've found another way to keep myself busy! Between teaching Mahjong and introducing people to classic games, I may have to add keeper of the old-school games to my list of unofficial titles.

And honestly, what better time of year to start? As the temperatures drop and the evenings get longer, there's something awfully appealing about gathering around a table, putting the phones aside, learning something new, and enjoying a little friendly competition. No expensive equipment, elaborate planning, or fancy entertainment required. Just a few games, some good company, and perhaps a little trash talk thrown in for good measure.

Because at the end of the day, it's never really just about the game. It's about the connections, and the traditions we create along the way. If teaching someone to play backgammon inspires them to teach their own kids, then a little piece of the past gets carried into the future.

So, who's up for game night? Just be warned: I'll happily teach you how to play, but once you know the rules, don't expect me to let you win! After all, good, clean fun is always in season... and winter is coming!

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson