How to Cheat at the Kissie Game
Some nights my kids and I play a kissie game when they go to bed. They crawl into bed. I’m supposed to kiss them on each cheek. (Yes, they’re both teens. You’d think they would have tired of this game a decade ago. But no, they still love it.)
They squirrel their bodies like crazy, cover their cheeks with a pillow or their hands, burrow down under the covers, whatever! But somehow, I always manage to kiss both cheeks.
How do I do it? I cheat.
I either use my nearly 200 pounds of manly strength to pin them down. Or I pretend my glasses got knocked off my face. Or I fake injury. Or I tickle them. Whatever it takes.
Hey, it’s not like there are rules about how I’m supposed to kiss them or not. The only rule is that I kiss both cheeks. I do that every time we play.
I guess you could say if there aren’t written rules, I’m not really cheating. But the point is I do whatever it takes to accomplish my goal. I’m thinking there’s a decent life lesson in there to teach them.
Of course, I’m too busy gloating as the victor to remember to bring it up.
To paraphrase Julius Caesar: Vini. Baci. Vici.
Or in my case, Baci. Vici. Arrivaderci.
I kiss. I win. Goodnight.
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Comment by Divorced Lifestyle
| September 15th, 2009
That’s really cute. And something the kids will remember forever.
Divorced Lifestyle´s last blog ..Free emergency fund
Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| September 15th, 2009
We play this game, too. I hope my boys will be as good of sports as your kids are.
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Totally Music Tuesday
Comment by Just Me...
| September 15th, 2009
When we play this game and mine hides under the covers, there is one sure-fire way to catch her.. Be very quiet and still.. Curiosity gets her and she throws the off the covers to see why you stopped..
Then, she’s caught!!! :) :)
Just Me…´s last blog ..Pillows and DVD players..
Comment by Andrea
| September 15th, 2009
I used to play a game with my mom where I tried to tag her last before bed. It usually went on for ten minutes or so with lots of giggling.
Andrea´s last blog ..Random Tuesday Thoughts: A Writer Mama’s Tale
Comment by debra
| September 15th, 2009
Okay, you’re the first person to ever successfully convince me not to trade my son in when he becomes a teen! We both thank you! :)
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| September 15th, 2009
I’m pretty sure this just proves that they are tired of this game. ;)
Comment by MommaSunshine
| September 15th, 2009
Sounds like a fun goodnight tradition. :)
MommaSunshine´s last blog ..Everyday Love Stories
Comment by CJ
| September 15th, 2009
Cheating doesn’t count when you’re all winners in the end!!!
CJ´s last blog ..Wating for results
Comment by Mindy/Single Mom Says...
| September 15th, 2009
Wow. I can’t believe your teens let you get away with this! I haven’t put my own teens to bed in years and half the time I’m in bed before they are! Our ruitine consists of, “I’m going to bed.” and “Good night – love you.”
Mindy/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..Timing
Comment by Danielle
| September 15th, 2009
I think that the cover of the cheeks and sqwirming around says that “they don’t like the kissing game” anymore. :)
But it is cool that all 200lbs of manly you admit to doing this. *wink*
Danielle´s last blog ..Gimme Smore 4 day weekends please
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| September 15th, 2009
Funny! And cool that they still enjoy it. But you have to watch out for that “whatever it takes to reach a goal” lesson. It needs a few parameters put around it. But then, I think you know that already…
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Tricky trilogy pushes parents to ponder
Comment by dadshouse
| September 15th, 2009
See now, since this is a public blog, I suppose I should say that I’m the one who keeps this tradition alive, and my kids are the ones begging me off. To say otherwise would embarrass them to no end… right? Haha.
Mindy – I have my share of nights where I go to sleep first! But on a school night, they usually hit the sack earlier than me, and they both ask me to come say goodnight. (Which I would do anyways, but it’s nice they still ask.)
Debra – teens are awesome! Yeah, they make mistakes and are clamoring for independence. But they also respond well to being treated like they matter. Which they do.
Comment by QTMama
| September 15th, 2009
We do a version of this too, but I always have to do it on her neck, where she is super ticklish. I hope she lets me do this when she’s a teen too. :)
QTMama´s last blog ..Sometimes …
Comment by jason
| September 15th, 2009
dad,
you are such a softie :-)
very nice!
i dont think i would have reacted as well as your kids do, when i was a teen!
Comment by Lance
| September 15th, 2009
Wouldn’t it be Kissy, not kissie? Sorry, didn’t have anything else to add to this post…
Lance´s last blog ..Insights from Reading Eat,Pray,Love & 5 Love Languages
Comment by T
| September 15th, 2009
Yeah, I love this.
Oh that our children will let us continue to be silly parents into their teens!
Thanks for sharing the fun times of parenthood. :)
T´s last blog ..Don’t know nothin’ bout me
Comment by Senorita
| September 15th, 2009
200 lbs of manly strength to pin someone down ? Sounds good to me……….
Oh wait, this is a family blog, and we are talking about children here…..
::Walks off in embarassment::
Senorita ´s last blog ..Rude, Crude, and Obnoxious Part II (Not safe for little kids or overprotective grandmas)
Comment by Silindile Ntuli
| September 15th, 2009
This is so beautiful and funny, it’s something your kids will cherish forever and maybe play them with their own kids one day… Keep on cheating
Comment by krn
| September 15th, 2009
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww~
That is so, so sweet that it’s amazingly singledadsexy, too.
The world needs more dads like you.
Comment by Ambar
| September 15th, 2009
Aww…That’s very nice, the kind of thing your kids will never forget. I’m an adult and my mom still calls me “mi tesorito”, like “my little treasure”. And everytime we say hello or goodbye she gives me kisses on each cheek and my forehead ;)
Comment by Farah
| September 17th, 2009
Wow..You’re the first dad I know that does this.
As a mom, I do this all the time but my ex-husband doesn’t do this. My own father doesn’t either, no cheek kisses, not even hugs, just handshakes, and that’s only on rare occasions. You’re an anomaly in the male parents universe! ;-) We need more! :-)
Comment by The Exception
| September 20th, 2009
This is a fun post!! I love the little games that parents play with their kids – the things kids will take with them and cherish always.
The Exception´s last blog ..Straight from the Heart
Comment by Mark
| September 26th, 2009
Night time rituals are important for our children and for us.
Mark´s last blog ..Places of Peace and Energy That Rejuvinates