Dear Bennett, Letter 8.

Dear Bennett,

Your dad and I love to play games together.  Well, I love the games and he loves the joy of watching me enjoy a game.  If you just felt a thrill in my belly, it’s ’cause I just beat him at playing Settlers of Catan.

Your dad and I have a somewhat ridiculous history with this game.  But I promise that when you’re playing with us, we’ll try to be on our best behavior.

One day I’m going to teach you 1) the importance of trying your best, 2) that it’s okay to lose, 3) how to be a good winner and 4) how to be a good loser.

As competitive as I am, Bennett, I really look forward to the day when you begin to beat me in games.  Now, I do love to win.  But when you get the best of me, I think I’ll feel like an even greater winner… because I’ll have raised a winner.  And, as I prayed to God the other day, I do hope that you’ll eventually be better than me in every way.

Your Aunt Manny on the other hand, she might not be interested in your being a winner.  Be careful which games you play with her.  If there are loose pieces (the kind that can be flung, thrown or tossed), be sure to take cover before you win.

Then there’s your Uncle Donovan.  He’s likely to teach you all about video games.  Bennett, no matter what, you are not allowed to love video games more than you love me and more than you love your father.  You hear me?  I mean it.

You’ll likely be safe playing games with your Grandmomma, Poppy Charley and Aunt Olivia.

But then there’s your Uncle Joey.  With Uncle Joey, games might be slightly more crafty and slightly more clever.  These aren’t the kind of games that require boards or cards.  No, we like to call these games “pranks.”  Uncle Joey loves to laugh and be silly, so go ahead and be silly with him.  Don’t let it hurt your feelings if you think he’s laughing at you.  In this family, we have to learn to laugh at ourselves, too.

With a growing love,

Your Mom

(Letters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.)