The Domino Effect

This week, being our first full week of summer vacation, this phrase came from both of my children's mouth: "I'm bored". What how can they be bored? They both have a DS, bikes, scooters, we have a pool, a bazillion board games, yard games, we own just about every kids DVD you can think of, and we have a million books. How can you be bored? I threatened them both that if they were that bored, I could always find them something to cure that, like....I don't know....scrubbing the toilet bowls (they both HATE the thought of that chore. You should see Ariel attempting it. Too funny).
I soon realized, they really wanted one thing: "Someone else to play with besides each other." They didn't really need me to go buy another game, or movie, or take them somewhere that cost a lot of money, because that is a just a temporary cure. They just wanted someone else to play with. Think about it, why do kids usually dislike school---the school work, right? However, they LOVE socializing with friends, at least mine do.
So, who has become their extra playmate? ME! It's actually been pretty fun, and I have to admit that I'm enjoying the time they are wanting to spend with me because I know that will probably be coming to a halt quicker that I know it.
This leads to the next part of my blog (see the domino effect). I'm sure my girls will have a different spin on it (we'll have to see if they put their ideas on the other blog). On Tuesday, the girls and I decided to play dominoes. We discovered how much fun they could be on Monday and have been playing them a lot lately. Our games on Tuesday are the cause of this blog.
Let me just say, I am VERY competitive. I hate losing---even to a 7 year old. Mike will purposely lose to build their self esteem and he tells me that I should be a "grown-up" and do the same. However, I have a different philosophy--they need to learn that losing sometimes happens too, and you need to learn how to deal with it. Trust me, if you don't you could become a 34 year old sore loser (like me, there I said it.).
So, I'm in it to win it baby! Don't get in my way.
Well, our first game of dominoes was pretty laid back. We all played well, and had a great time. AND I WON!! The girls seemed okay with this, or so I thought. We decided to play another game. Second game started with the "snake eye or double one" domino. Both girls were able to come out on the board, but not mommy. I have to put out my train and pick up another domino. Second turn, both girls play, but not mommy. Third turn girls both play, but not mommy. I think you get the point. I am having the worst luck ever. I keep picking up dominoes, but nothing with a one. Cecily, who is always kind hearted said, "Maybe I should help you out mom." But Ariel, in her cunning way, reminded Cecily, "No don't help her out. Do you want her to win again?" Am I hearing right? Are they joining forces to have a coup over me (there mom who is playing with THEM)? The answer is YES! and that's how it all began. I went around for about 10 turns still no domino to come out on and what made it worse was knowing that both girls could have helped me out, but were ganging up and not doing so.
Finally, I got a domino with the one, but as luck would have it, the other side of the domino did not have the number that I needed to lay any of the other 20 dominoes I had lined up. So my train had to go out again! I could not believe it. Let's just saying I was quickly starting to hate dominoes.
The girls decided that they would finally help me out. So much for help! They both put dominoes down in which I needed a domino with a "one dot"---the very number that started the whole mess! Their giggles could be heard, which was not pleasant for me at the time.
Being the poor sport that I am, I began getting a little upset. I just sat there making comments like, "So much for your help, I'll remember that when you need something." Both girls were laughing and saying, "You're just mad because you are going to lose, and one of us is going to win." I said, "No, I'm not." Even though I really was.
After getting tired of hearing their taunting, I said:"Ya'll keep talking your smack. You'll see. I'm going to win ,and ya'll are going to both be stuck with one domino that you can't play because you will need what I have."
Then they said, "Yeah, right. " Cecily copying Ariel.

Well, this is how the game ended:

Notice they both have one domino left. I had about 8 dominoes left when they had to put out their trains. So I had the entire board to play off of and I played my dominoes just right because guess what? I WON!!! We have this annoying thing that we do in our family (and only with our family--the girls have been warned) when someone wins, which today I had great pleasure in doing. We sing at the top of our lungs, "I AM THE CHAMPION, NO TIME FOR LOSERS, I AM THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!" The girls were very good sports though and laughed at my singing.
To the victor go the spoils! Anyone up for a game of dominoes?