My Mom Started Playing Games and Now She Beats Me

My mom is 55. She'd never played a video game in her life. I showed her a simple puzzle game on my laptop three months ago, just so she'd understand what I'm always doing on my computer. Now she beats me at pretty much every puzzle game we play together. I'm not even mad about it - it's actually really cool.

This whole experience has been eye-opening. I never expected my mom to get into gaming, let alone become better at it than me. But here we are, and it's been one of the best things to happen to our relationship in years.

How It Started - A Simple Introduction

Mom was visiting and asked what I was playing. I showed her this bubble-matching game I'd been into. She watched for a minute and said "that looks fun, let me try." I figured she'd play for five minutes and get bored. I was completely wrong.

She played for an hour. When I told her we should probably eat dinner, she said "just one more level." I created a monster. But honestly, it's the best monster I've ever created.

I was shocked. My mom, who had never shown any interest in technology beyond checking email, was completely absorbed in a video game. She was focused, engaged, and clearly having fun.

She Got Really Into It - Way More Than I Expected

The next day she asked if she could play on my laptop again. Then she asked me to send her the link so she could play at home. Then she started asking me for recommendations for other games. I was sending her game suggestions like I was her personal gaming consultant.

Now she plays every morning with her coffee. She calls it her "brain warm-up" before starting her day. She's completed more puzzle games than I have, and I've been gaming for years. It's honestly impressive.

She's gone from zero gaming experience to being genuinely skilled at puzzle games. She's completed games I haven't even finished. I'm proud of her, even if it means she's better than me at something I've been doing for years.

Why She's So Good - The Secret

At first I couldn't figure out how she got so good so fast. Then I realized - she approaches games completely differently than I do. I try to rush through everything, trying to beat levels as fast as possible. She takes her time and actually thinks about each move.

She's also way more patient than me. If she gets stuck on a level, she'll try the same level twenty times until she figures it out. I would've rage-quit after three tries. Her focus and patience make her better at these games than me.

I think part of it is that she doesn't have the same gaming baggage I do. She's not trying to prove anything or compete. She's just playing for fun, and that relaxed approach actually makes her better at solving puzzles.

She also reads all the instructions carefully, which I never do. I just jump in and figure it out. She takes time to understand the rules, and that pays off.

Our Weekly Game Nights - A New Tradition

Now every Sunday we have a video call where we play games together. We pick a game, both try to beat it, and compare our strategies. She wins most of the time, but I'm getting better at accepting that.

Last week we played a puzzle game where you have to sort colored liquids. I got through 45 levels over the course of a week. She beat all 100 levels in two days and was waiting for me to catch up. Show-off. But I'm not even mad - I'm impressed.

These weekly game sessions have become something I really look forward to. We talk about strategies, share tips, and just have fun together. It's brought us closer in a way I didn't expect.

What's Cool About It - Beyond Just Gaming

This is probably the first time in my adult life that my mom and I have a hobby we both enjoy. We text each other about games, send screenshots when we beat hard levels, and actually have something fun to talk about that isn't just family updates.

My dad thinks we're both crazy for spending so much time on "silly games," but whatever. Mom's having fun, I'm having fun, and it's brought us closer together. That's pretty great.

We have inside jokes about games now. We'll reference levels we've both played. It's created this whole new dimension to our relationship that didn't exist before.

She's also gotten more comfortable with technology in general. She used to be intimidated by computers, but now she's navigating game websites and figuring things out on her own. Gaming has been a gateway to her feeling more confident with technology.

Age Doesn't Matter - Breaking Stereotypes

I used to think gaming was just for younger people. Mom proved me wrong. She's better at puzzle games than most people my age who've been gaming for years. Age is just a number when it comes to gaming.

If you've got parents or older relatives who think they're "too old for video games," maybe show them something simple. You might be surprised. My mom discovered a whole new hobby at 55, and now she's crushing it.

Gaming isn't about age - it's about finding something you enjoy. My mom found that in puzzle games, and she's having a blast. That's what matters.

Just don't show them anything too good or they'll beat you at it. Learn from my mistakes. But honestly, even if they do beat you, it's worth it to see them having fun and to have this new way to connect.

Watching my mom discover gaming has been one of the coolest things. She's found something she genuinely enjoys, and we've found a new way to spend time together. I never would have expected this, but I'm so glad it happened.