Big Kid

I can't be the only mom who watches every episode of Mya and Her Moms with a big ol' grin on my face. Yup, the two lesbians moms raise their little girl just like the rest of us. And just like the rest of us, there is one great debate in their house. Do you let the kid win at games or not?

Eight-year-old Mya has it both ways, depending on which parent she's with. One mom plays games that are all about education ... and there is no winner or loser. The other mom lets her let out her competitive spirit.

So what happens in our house? I am putting it out on the Internet now, fully aware that one day she will Google herself and find the evidence to use against me in therapy.

We are a competitive board-game playing household. No happy, happy, everyone wins games in this house!

There is nothing like a night of Sorry and Uno (excuse me, Yankees Uno!) to make us feel like a family. It's a hold-over from the newlywed years when my husband and I were young and broke, and the a Trivial Pursuit marathon was good, clean -- and most importantly cheap -- fun. And I will let it be known that both my husband and I win these games. Often.

Not all the time. And only fair and square. We don't cheat for the glory of making our 7-year-old look bad. But we are trying, trying, trying to use game-play as much to raise a kid who isn't a self-centered brat as we are to pass the time on a Friday night.

Did I mention we're trying?

It's not easy. She has been known to flip a board game. Somehow she picked up the habit of calling people "liar" when she disagrees with them, and we've been on the end of the verbal assault more than once.

Because, ahem, she's 7. And she is still learning. So I guess I agree with both Lisa and Laura after all -- we play games competitively ... and they're educational.

What about you? How does game play go down in your house?

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