When I was in high school - a good pal of mine - although at the time, I'm certain I was googly eyes for the guy because he was taller than me - but mostly he was a good pal of mine. Anyways, my pal told me I should try playing video games to increase my dexterity and coordination. I'm sure had using quote fingers at the time not been overshadowed by leg warmers or swatch watches, he'd have used quote fingers when suggesting me, dexterity and coordination in the same reference. And then he muffled his laugh, as if to say, "Yeah, like THAT'LL help." Snicker. Snicker.
I thought the suggestion was a little weird. Because I was discovering that perhaps - playing video games and attempting to help my dexterity and coordination- well, maybe a wee bit late in the ball game for that. Even back then, it'd been a while since I'd played Pac Man and Frogger - but really, I was certain that was not the answer. Maybe I should start by walking and talking and chewing gum all at once and practice that for a while. Then again, I never got around to that either.
Video games have come a long way since I played Frogger. When Ricardo talked me into the PS3, I knew to just sit and watch him "play" or whatever you do with Grand Theft Auto. And I got motion sickness. That so never happened crossing the street and jumping the logs on Atari. And hey, where's the joystick? Well, great. Now you can't even make a joystick reference these days. Nice.
There are way too many options on the game controllers now. Really. Seriously. No, like really. When we introduced the kids to our PS3 - but not Grand Theft Auto - thank you, I was very concerned about how we could possibly instruct them verbally on how to use the magic controllers. Ricardo just told me it would all be okay, and he gave them each a controller, and that was it. Voila. As if the dominant gene for all things video gamey was passed on to our off spring from Ricardo - not me - they just did it. They just know. I'm the only one in the family that finds this very creepy. Everyone else calls it "normal". Whatever.
The PS3 Move is my only saving grace because I can atleast functionally just move around and lose instead of just not being able to play because I can't handle the controller. I mean, I can mince garlic, saute onions, and flambe spinach all at once while changing the laundry. But I cannot handle one of those darn game controllers.
Still, I've resolved to try harder. Spend time with the kids. And so I relented and told Max I'd play Little Big Planet with him. Quite frankly, just the patheticness of him asking me because no one else was around was endearing enough. Had the dog still been around, he probably would have been a better candidate. But he's not. I really miss that dog. So, Max had to deal with me. I think he was shocked I said yes, "Sure I'll play with you."
And I mentally gave myself a pep talk: Dude, you can't just be present. You gotta really try.
I think the thing I've learned here is when there is simply no hope - I laugh at me. I laugh outloud, real loud, real hard at me. I'm sure some would just prefer I try a little harder. But today, Max simply enjoyed me laughing at myself. A quality, I think he should learn. Perhaps I should take myself more seriously. But what this kid needs is to not take himself so seriously. Mission accomplished. I have officially taught by example. I mean really, he kept telling me, "Grab that floating ball, Mom." How the heck to you grab something. "Jump and then R1." What's R1? He paused the game to show me.
Later I kept getting killed off what with all that synchronized grabbing AND jumping. I couldn't handle it. And Max would just coach me with, "Just stay there, Mom. I'll come get you." Or, my personal favorite: "I'll wait for you, Mom. Don't worry."
And just when I thought he he couldn't get any sweeter, later he played with Lucy. He got really mad and yelled at her. Lucy's defense was that he was patient with me, why not with her. Max's response was classic, "Mom doesn't know any better Lucy! You do!"
I think what he meant to say, but knew that I was listening was, "We don't pick on people smaller than us, and we don't pick on people with gaming disabilities!" Probably something like that.
Max continues to ask me to play with him. I think he's hoping I'll improve. Like he's helping me. But I also think, deep down, he just gets a kick of being a part of making me laugh that hard. Me too.
That's how I roll.
Song of the Day: Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
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