The year has come and gone much faster than previous years, and the reality of my kids getting older has never been quite so vivid. My daughter Adelaide started middle school this fall, while my son Marshall is in his final year of elementary school. Excuse me while I stare blankly into space.
There have been highs and lows to the year. For the highs, our family took a wonderful summer vacation to Italy, where we explored the sights, sounds, and delicious foods.
The lows to the year have affected many of us, and I worry about their impact on my family. Some individuals in our country have felt emboldened to make shockingly ridiculous statements (i.e., “Your body, my choice”). It is astoundingly worrying to wonder if my daughter will have to hear other peers say that in school. Will other boys hear it from adults and then reciprocate those lines to my daughter or her friends? How will it impact their feelings of being in a safe environment? Will they feel restricted to voice a rebuttal because they’re afraid of what else might be said or done? How will my son feel hearing others saying these things about his sister or his close friends? And will such derogatory statements, which insinuate physical harm, be tolerated by school officials?
Although, admittedly, I don’t have the ability to currently go on and on about such an anxiety-inducing concern over the safety of my children, it is important to note and state without question: People should be kind. People should have the ability to live without such hateful rhetoric. And above all else, our kids should understand those things as clearly as clear can be.
On the flip side, my wife and I are doing what we can to spend more time with our kids, even if that means sitting together and watching baking videos on YouTube. We’ve played board games, read books or comics in the same space, and, of course, had various sessions of us playing chef and sous-chef in the kitchen. These are the moments that I adore, but I also recognize when my kids want their own time when it comes to watching TV or playing video games.
Board Game Highlights from the Geeky Parent Guide (GPG) in 2024
The year kicked off with board games and five that were accessible for parents and their kids. One of the reasons I find board games so enjoyable, besides being incredibly fun and (sometimes) challenging, is that it lets me spend time with my kids and realize they’re choosing to spend that time with me. That means the world to me and I will always love those moments.
Now, there have been times where the kids haven’t wanted to play, or I didn’t feel like I had the mental capacity or energy to play a certain game. If I were to compare the previous rankings from the GPG article, I would say Trivial Pursuit and The Quest for El Dorado were the most played from that list of five. Most of those times, I would play Trivial Pursuit with Adelaide, while I would play The Quest for El Dorado with Marshall.
If I were to highlight a game that wasn’t discussed on the GPG, I would probably mention Dune: Imperium. I did play it solo and I very much enjoyed it, but I much preferred playing with Marshall to have that interaction with him. The gameplay is very tight with limited actions each round, while deckbuilding and managing resources in an effort to earn victory points.
Sharing Stories with the GPG and My Kids
One of my favorite things has been sharing stories with my kids and vice versa. It really amped up with my daughter’s favorite book Frizzy and how her interest in this story made me want to read it. Throughout the year, she and Marshall have talked to me about the comics or books they’re reading. They would tell me what makes the stories interesting or stressful, while also asking if I’d be interested in reading them.
My daughter is currently reading The Hunger Games trilogy, and, I must say, that brings me great joy. The series influenced me in such a profound way that I initiated a lifelong dream and became a writer. After reading the first book, I wrote and published my first fictional book that same year. So, when Adelaide showed interest in wanting to read the series, it was a no brainer – and I quickly checked them out from our favorite local library.
Adelaide also told me about Eerie Tales from the School of Screams earlier in the fall season. It’s a fantastic introductory creepy story for a younger audience. As for a few comic books I did not recommend to my kids because the content is too mature (for right now), I really enjoyed The Cemetarians by Vault Comics and Phantom Road by Image Comics.
The Cemetarians explores what would happen if objects started to transform into bones. I was dazzled by the uniqueness, while horrified by “a new kind of fear I would never have imagined until reading this story.” On the flip side, Phantom Road follows two characters who find themselves stuck between the real world and a seemingly abandoned mirror-world, where wrinkled skin monsters wander and attack them whenever close.
While Adelaide reads The Hunger Games, I am taking this opportunity to reread Divergent. The idea of finding hope within dystopian worlds really brings me comfort.
Keeping Myself “Centered” in 2024
I have attempted to put myself in a healthier frame of mind and body this year which is why, for the past year, I have brought back running into my life. I ran prior to having kids and didn’t do it much at all after having kids. It was a choice, but as I got older, I wanted to do my part to try and stay healthier. So, I choose to run for some sick reason.
Sometimes, the struggle is quite real during that first mile or so. From not wanting to suffer through the run or being too cold, running can be quite the challenge. Well, my only ally on the road: music. Thank goodness for music, because I can create my own playlist of (mostly) aggressive alternative rock that keeps my feet moving forward, despite the times when burning lungs or exhausted legs would otherwise turn me back around and go home.
Now, what music has championed my quest to run, while also finding airtime in the car or when I’m editing written works? Let’s just say my #1 artist from 2024 was Deftones and I wasn’t surprised at all. My #1 (most played) song was “The Tourist” by Radiohead, which still boggles my mind how I listened to one song 98 times in a single year.
Speaking of music, and tying it back to great stories, have you heard of Spectrum by Mad Cave Studios? I had the pleasure to read and review Issue #1 (over on my Substack), and the creators built a story where music and mystery intertwine in a way where I felt completely submersed in the protagonist’s world. Very cool indeed.
Outside of music and running, quite possibly the most important thing that has helped me this year has been talking. Meghan, our kids, and a few dear friends have shared such valuable time together, whether in-person, video chats, emails, or Facebook messages, and these moments have provided uplifting positivity in times when I have needed it most.
Whether Meghan or my kids are telling me about their day at school, sharing exciting news about extracurriculars, or simply talking about food or books or whatever, I cherish these moments. And the friends who share time with me (and Meghan), inviting us over to unwind with wine and pizza, having video chats to talk about our creative works, TV shows we’re watching, or ranking songs on various albums, or simply sending a message to see how things are going, it has all meant so much to me
Moving Forward for Next Year
I want my kids to be happy. I want Meghan to be happy. I want my friends to find joy and success and do whatever else that helps bring a smile to their faces. And I want the Geeky Parent Guide to be a place for anyone to come and enjoy content. If you don’t have kids, that’s okay – like Fanbase Press, I want the GPG to be a welcoming and safe space for people to share in pop culture and geek out about it.
If you’re new to the GPG, I am Travis (known as @travisadork online in most places), and I hope we can find a positive path together in the new year. What would you like to see covered in 2025? Do you also love dystopian stories and would love to read or hear more about The Hunger Games? Are you constantly looking for your next favorite comic book? Do you want to know what it’s like to travel abroad with your little ones?
Please share what you’re looking forward to in the new year, and if you want to see something covered on the GPG, let me know in the comments or find me on any of my socials to tell me all about it.
Until next time, friends, happy parenting and happy geeking.
