Our nine-year old, Julia, and I have an inside joke that she loves to bring up when we are needing to reconnect. It has to do with the headache-inducing board game “Hedbanz” (yes, that is actually how it is spelled!). It revolves around the question, “What Am I?” and is the least enjoyable game I have ever had the pleasure of playing with my kids!
I remember the first time we played it. I was very enthusiastic because I love board games. I even grew up with my wonderful aunt, Jana Dabney, always introducing our family to new games during the holidays and it became a tradition that I now enjoy with my own family.
And then…Hedbanz. I am not sure why I dislike this game so much, but the funniest thing has happened because of my disdain for it. Julia has grown to love it even more! I still play it with her sometimes and last night after dinner she got that look in her eye and said, “Dad, let’s play [big dramatic pause] THE GAME!”
I told her there was no way I was going to play it.
“I can’t stand that game,” I said.
She was resolute and in no time at all was back at the dinner table and putting the game pieces together for us.
We played and I lost nearly every round. However, I realize more important things can happen when you are playing a game with your kids. I watched my little girl laugh until she nearly cried as I fumbled with the questions and the answers, the clues and the rules of the game. The more I grumbled about the game, the more she laughed. I think that she won the games but I won the memory.
By the time we said our goodnights, I had to admit to myself that Hedbanz isn’t really all that terrible after all. Just don’t tell Julia…