The Game of Life

So I mentioned that we held a birthday party for my eldest this weekend. Very belated. So six-month late belated, he received cards for eleven year olds because everyone thought he was turning eleven. Oops!

So my little CG Replicant received the game Life from his girlfriend. I use the word girlfriend loosely. They have both admitted to liking the other, and yet, unlike other 5th grade crushes, they still talk to each other. This is a new phenomenon for me. I am a little taken aback at their maturity.

So the girlfriend bought him the Sponge Bob version of Life. Her mother took me aside to give me a gift receipt since she was sure a 5th grade boy probably wouldn't want it. Well, the girlfriend had it right. My eldest loved it. Yet, I'm not sure who was happier with the game--my son or my husband. You see, my husband CG, has a bizarre, embarassing passion for Sponge Bob, which drives me crazy. He beams with pride if I can actual mention any knowledge about characters of the show.

So last night we had some family quality time playing Life with too many Krabby patties. In typical fashion, my 5th grader spent the time trying to cheat or sulking. Princess Baby played poor innocent helpless girl and insisted on playing on her Daddy's team, and I used this, as banker, as a tool to teach mathematics skills to L'il Man. My husband CG used the game as a moral platform to expound upon the fact that choosing a job that brought pleasure--such as being the police man $500 salary over being Mr. Krabbs/Business Owner $700 salary--was far superior to a salary. U-huh! Sure! What Evah!

So, I, not having any character favorites, chose the highest salary (Fry Chef $700) and the home with the cheapest rent (Grandma's House $300) amidst groans of horror from the peanut gallery that I really didn't want to live at Grandma's. Well, guess who won at the game of Life? Yep, me! And, ignoring all CG's moral admonishments, guess how it was decided who won? Yep, green backs baby. I'm sure there's a Republican gem in all this or perhaps a life philosophy, but to be honest, in real life, I highly doubt I would have chosen the low rent home. But, I would love for CG in real life to be pursuing that Fry Chef mentality over being "fulfilled and deriving pleasure" from being a Groundskeeper.

P.S. The highlight of the evening was when my eldest insisted that everyone go to college--the brainwashing is working!

'lisciously scribed by Scout's Honor @ 1:08 PM