MIL is a bad loser when playing board games

[Anonymous]

If you must play games focus on ones that don't require any strategy or skill. Like War, or Candyland. But honestly I wouldn't play games at all, she's setting a terrible example for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Lol! How ridiculous! I would stop the games when she’s at your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to play much shorter games. Monopoly, risk? I don't have patience for either of those games, and I'm 43.

Monopoly Deal is 20-25 min tops.

[Anonymous]

My youngest DS was a horrible loser from an early age (he's now in HS) because of poor emotional regulation (he's also got ADHD). We used to practice at home and in therapy on it - for YEARS - but because being able to regulate your emotions, especially negative emotions is a life skill. DS is now within 'normal' range in being able to regulate his emotions. Your MIL, on the other hand, sounds like a mess. As an adult, she certainly has the cognitive capacity to recognize when her behavior is out of line. I'd totally be upfront with her about her chose to be a bad loser and not play with her.

[Anonymous]

A PP suggested a cooperative game like Forbidden Island where either everyone wins or everyone loses. That might work. Or what about Telestrations or Apples to Apples? You can have fun with games like those without necessarily keeping score.

[Anonymous]

Record it and show it to her.

[Anonymous]

Don't play games with her anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Record it and show it to her.

This.

Don't play with her anymore but the real takeaway is to not miss this opportunity to teach your kids about how inappropriate her reaction was. Not in a judgy 'she is a dick' way but in a 'let's talk about managing disappointment' way. "does grandma handle this well?" "what else could she have done?" "does this make you want to play with her?" etc. I like all my kids to know that they have the choice in who they play with for these reasons. She wouldn't get a grandma pass from me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A PP suggested a cooperative game like Forbidden Island where either everyone wins or everyone loses. That might work. Or what about Telestrations or Apples to Apples? You can have fun with games like those without necessarily keeping score.

OP's MIL probably won't want to play a game like that.

[Anonymous]

Switch to movie night, bike riding, baking, scavenger hunts outside. You're the adult here, re-direct.

[Anonymous]

I don't get the problem. So she quit mid game. There is no reason why everyone else can't keep playing. Model the behavior you want to see. Don't react, just keep going. If you're allowing this to get under your skin and you're showing it to your kids then you're the problem for your kids not your MIL. Model to your kids that you can't control other people, you can only control yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same OP! We are all a little competitive, but my MIL will start name calling. And she has no ability to see when everyone else is OVER IT and has stopped having fun. She is just mean about it, and I hate it.

So: I stopped playing with her! If the kids want to play, I make my DH play with them and I am "busy" doing something else. If the kids aren't having fun, they'll stop asking her. If they are, maybe they aren't noticing she's a sore loser.

+1. Had to do with MIL & SIL. Which is a shame because I otherwise enjoy those games. The only thing they can do now is a puzzle and even then she is telling them they are doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For example: last night we were all playing Monopoly Deal and my 8 year old traded a property for hers (allowed in Monopoly Deal) and she threw down her cards and said she was done. This isn't the first time similar behavior has jappened. My kids keep suggesting games, she keeps saying yes, but I can't take it anymore.

Start finding cooperative games to play.

We love pandemic! Yes it's a boardgames. yes it's awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol! How ridiculous! I would stop the games when she’s at your house.

Seriously! No more games. This is incredibly immature and distasteful behavior.

Buy a 1000 piece puzzle for her visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the problem. So she quit mid game. There is no reason why everyone else can't keep playing. Model the behavior you want to see. Don't react, just keep going. If you're allowing this to get under your skin and you're showing it to your kids then you're the problem for your kids not your MIL. Model to your kids that you can't control other people, you can only control yourself.

??What?? Now I’ve heard it all. So, now OP is supposed to pretend that she didn’t watch a grown adult throw a tantrum in her house?

I would tell my kids no games when grandma’s around. Puzzles or a movie night.

I do wonder if grandma is just generally grumpy? Is she the type to complain about the puzzle you chose or make negative comments about the movie? Is she just not a very pleasant person?