Razor78 | 19 Jul 2016 8:29 a.m. PST |
I have attended every Historicon since 2002 and this one was without a doubt the worse one…….BUT it had nothing to do with the actual convention. Every year since 2002 my son has attended with me and this year he couldn't make it. Trolling the flea market and dealers hall, as well as participating in some really great games just wasn't the same. It did help me put my "passion" into perspective and realize how precious the time spent with him really is, especially now that he's grown and married and we live about 2 hrs apart. |
Tgerritsen | 19 Jul 2016 8:35 a.m. PST |
I feel for you, Razor. My son is in college these days so all the fall shows around here just aren't the same without him. |
Puddinhead Johnson | 19 Jul 2016 8:39 a.m. PST |
You should be thankful your son has an interest at all. I could never get either of my sons to take the least interest in wargaming. |
Frederick | 19 Jul 2016 8:44 a.m. PST |
I know what you mean – we have a yearly holiday in Florida and for the first time in a while No. 2 son couldn't come- had a good time but missed him Of our 4 boys, 2 are pretty serious games, one has a passing interest and one couldn't care less |
bogdanwaz | 19 Jul 2016 8:46 a.m. PST |
One of the main reasons I've loved Historicon over the years was the amount of time I get to spend with my son, playing and running games with him. He graduates college in two years and I don't look forward to the likelihood that he may not be able to make as regularly. |
War Panda | 19 Jul 2016 9:28 a.m. PST |
Razor, thanks for posting this. I'm camping with my young family right now and I've two boys only 3 and 5 who both already show massive interest and excitement over Dad's gaming (I play certain family friendly fantasy rpgs) I really appreciate your heartfelt reminder that these little guys won't always be here with dad and I need to cherish every moment (frustrating or otherwise 😉) Razor I hope life's changes bring you some joy real soon too- I know my wife's parents are really enjoying the new grand kids. |
kallman | 19 Jul 2016 9:35 a.m. PST |
Enjoy the time you have with them. It passes too fast and then it is gone. I miss both my boys terribly and the time we spent together while full, fun and enjoyable it is never enough. |
jrbatso | 19 Jul 2016 9:41 a.m. PST |
You are right the time I spend with my son and now my grandson at conventions is wonderful. |
BrigadeGames | 19 Jul 2016 10:47 a.m. PST |
Yep. Down to 1 of 3 boys attending the cons. I only have a year or so with my youngest before internships start. Then it will just be me and my crew of wargaming buddies. My oldest, Logan, who many saw since he was very young helping at the booth, moves to St Louis to work for Boeing as a Computer Engineer in a week. I am proud of him, but I will miss him as will the rest of my family. He would game at the cons and was a natural when it came to figuring out rules and how to work them to one's advantage. He even GMd a few games when he was 12. I am hoping one of these days he resparks his interest in wargaming. |
Who asked this joker | 19 Jul 2016 10:51 a.m. PST |
I am at the other end of it. My son is 8. We've only been to one H-con together but he had a good time. When he is a bit older, I hope he will want to do the over night conventions. Hopefully your son has not lost that lovin' feeling for gaming. |
WaltOHara | 19 Jul 2016 11:21 a.m. PST |
Man, that is poignant, Razor.. my son Garrett starts college in the Fall, and he and I attended together.. maybe the last time, maybe not.. gulp! Walt O'Hara |
robert piepenbrink | 19 Jul 2016 12:53 p.m. PST |
Yeah. I haven't got the kid to a convention since he got engaged. Even then, I could never convey the joy of horse & musket--or "boring linear warfare" as he descrobed it. But if you can hold on long enough, there's hope. I figure I'm six to eight years from walking the grandson through the flea market looking for Space Marines. And with another generation, maybe I have a shot at someone else who loves "Bullard of the Space Patrol." |
kallman | 19 Jul 2016 1:42 p.m. PST |
Terrment, I am not a Country and Western fan but that song and video hit the mark. I'm not ashamed to say it brought a tear or two to my eyes. |
TheKing30 | 19 Jul 2016 2:23 p.m. PST |
Trolling the flea market and dealers hall, as well as participating in some really great games just wasn't the same. It did help me put my "passion" into perspective and realize how precious the time spent with him really is, especially now that he's grown and married and we live about 2 hrs apart. I feel terrible for you. Time marches on and excludes nobody. I hope and pray that you and your son continue to grow closer. Seeing how much your son's company means to you, it sounds like you're a wise man. |
capncarp | 19 Jul 2016 2:47 p.m. PST |
Got any nephews or nieces you can get interested in gaming? How about godchildren? After me and Mrs Carp brought them along a few times, our godchildren got their stepfather into coming along to several cons. Keep the interest expanding. |
Warlord | 19 Jul 2016 4:44 p.m. PST |
The time with my boys gaming have been some great times, they are Men now also but we still get a game in every once in a while. Not as much as I would like to but still some time. Do miss them being little but enjoying them as men. |
Mad Guru | 19 Jul 2016 9:23 p.m. PST |
Razor78, I feel your pain. Our hobby is magnificent, but family is a whole other level. My son recently returned from his Freshman year at college, on the other side of the continent, and though I was of course very proud and happy for his success, it didn't keep me from missing him a lot when he left. On the plus side, 2 hrs drive -- while not very close -- is not that far either. |
pigbear | 20 Jul 2016 3:51 a.m. PST |
The closest I ever got my son to the hobby was a set of plastic soldiers from Tamiya and some paint. I'm not sure he ever painted them. Nowadays he's far too busy with college and his girlfriend to pay me much mind although he sometimes asks for advice about dealing with professors, applying to graduate school,etc. Even though I don't see him as much as I'd like I hope he knows I'm always there for him. I only bring this up because the OP brought to mind that sense of both growth and loss that seems to be an inevitable part of watching your babies turn into men, a real double-edged sword. Maybe a better way to think of it isn't loss, more a sense of pride tinged with nostalgia. |
Bosco05 | 20 Jul 2016 4:05 a.m. PST |
I feel your pain – my son is in college and out in SF this summer for an internship. He actually got me into the hobby when he became interested in 40K – of course his interest only lasted a few years and then moved on to robotics. I stayed behind but switched over to the more "respectable" historical side. Sean still plays a game or two with me when he's home but I suspect that's more to humor the old man who is paying for college rather than a desire to game Cherish the memories of coming to the cons with your son. |
R Dean | 20 Jul 2016 1:10 p.m. PST |
I'm happy to say that both of my sons, now 23 and 26, have been involved in this hobby with me for years. In fact, we'll be gathering in Indianapolis in two weeks for Gencon. But with my younger one heading off to grad school this fall, we'll not have the family in one state, so I fear the gatherings will be rarer and must be cherished all the more. On the brighter side, my brother has recently gotten back into this, after a 30 year hiatus, so we've been making conventions our family get togethers. He's part of our Gencon crew, too. :-) |
Poniatowski | 26 Jul 2016 10:06 a.m. PST |
I also feel your pain sir… my first batch of children loved to game…. My daughter still does (24 now), but she is in CO… My son (21) is more into his girl and work and really doesn't have time any more…. It does suck. One things I did….. have more kids!!!! I brought my family to Hcon and my 7 year old daughter got into a bunch of games where I got to watch and I even played in a few with and against her!!!! My 3 year old son wanted more to play with the toys rather than with rules….. but hey! It is a start! |
capncarp | 26 Jul 2016 8:45 p.m. PST |
Quothe Poniatowski: "One things I did….. have more kids!!!! I brought my family to Hcon and my 7 year old daughter got into a bunch of games where I got to watch and I even played in a few with and against her!!!! My 3 year old son wanted more to play with the toys rather than with rules….. but hey! It is a start!" Brilliant solution! Now if I could get my cats to be interested in more than trying to knock my figures onto the floor to "hunt" them. |