Start with the first, most crucial aspect of talking to your kids about their games.Much, much harder than it sounds.
I am so accustomed to answering questions, giving direction, being in the driver's seat, that when my kids start to tell me about their world (their games) I sometimes have to boot myself to the backseat and let them drive the conversation.In that moment before you respond to your child, if you're not sure you heard them accurately or not sure what they need to hear in return, then just reflect back what they originally said.
Jake: "When you... and ..."Me: "So, when you... and..."
It's step one of any relationship. Verifying the other person heard you correctly is the first step. Always. In delicate teen-parent relationships it's important to establish and re-establish that trust nearly every day.
But by the end of the day I'm so tired and on such brain overload that I often mis-hear my kids at best, hear them incorrectly at worst, and can't hear them at all on the really bad nights.
If you also have a hard time understanding them or holding on to your train of thought when your kid is speaking another language, just remember these benefits:
1. All that really matters is that you try.
2. Your kid may develop empathy for your inability to remember and next time he's sad that he didn't do well on a test, he'll subconsciously remember how you role modeled How to Handle It When You Don't Remember.
3. Game speak is a foreign language you must hear the new words again and again and again in order to achieve fluency.
4. Even if you flop big time and misunderstand most of what they say, they will still feel your love. That love is permanent and will echo throughout everything they do for the rest of their lives.
If you love your kid and your kid loves games,
learn about what your kid loves in order to better love your kid.
