Lately Camden has been asking, almost daily, if we can have family game night.

With Makaiylah’s soccer schedule it makes it kind of tough to get us all together at the same time on any given night. But we promised him we could start having one.

Typically we don’t play many board games so we don’t have many to choose from.

We made him a deal that we could go together and pick whatever one he wanted.

He chose Uno Attack.

If you aren’t familiar with this game, it is basically Uno but instead of drawing a card when needed, you hit a button on the card dispenser.

When you hit the button, you might get zero cards, or you might get 8. It is really just the luck of the draw.

Camden is still learning how to play the game and needs help every now and again.

Last week, we were getting late into our final round and everyone was “done” and ready for it to be over.

But the rule in our house is that if you start it, you have to finish it.

Next was Camden’s turn, he looked at his cards and said, “I don’t have anything”.

Now, since I had been helping him earlier I knew he had a card to play. Quite a few actually.

I told him, “hold on!”

He reached over and pushed the button anyway and 4 cards spit out. Adding to his already massive collection.

Slightly irritated I said, “Buddy! You need to hold on. I am trying to help you, you had a play but couldn’t wait just a second”.

He grabbed his cards and sat back into the couch.

He started rubbing his face and eyes as if he were too tired to keep playing.

Eva asked him, “are you tired buddy?”

What he said next, I will never forget.

His response…

“No, I’m just tired of being wrong all the time”

Bam!

What a gut punch, I instantly felt sick.

I can’t believe I made him feel that way.

My son, who I am supposed to build up, encourage, support, and empower, thinks that he is doing everything wrong.

And that is my fault.

I made him think he couldn’t do anything right.

I like to think that I am a good father and do my best to make sure my kids do as well.

But the reality is, sometimes I suck at it.

For the most part, we all want to be great parents, and most of the time we probably are. But there are times when we come up short.

Just like I did here. And he reminded me of it.

Even though there is no manual to parenting, I firmly believe that if you come from a place of love with your kids you will be just fine. But in this instance, I came from place of selfishness and it showed.

And that is…

How someone so little, could make me feel so small.