Why Bingo is the perfect COVID-19 cold weather game

It’s quick and takes zero talent, but it's a whole lot of fun for the whole family!

“Everything is canceled!” My teenagers have been bemoaning the loss of their tennis and soccer seasons for almost a year now. I admit I’ve been struggling, too. Sure, I’ve always homeschooled my seven sons, but teaching them during the pandemic is so much more of a challenge. Our weekly support group has been canceled, as have our seasonal museum passes, and our already-mentioned sports practices.

So what are a mother and seven boys (ages 3 to 16) to do to pass the long winter days? Especially when you’re done with lessons by 2 p.m. and there’s not enough snow for sledding?

You play BINGO!!!

That’s right, the game our grandmas championed in church basements. I tossed a boxed set in the cart about a month ago after my snarky teenager held it up at the Dollar Store: “We gotta be good at this,” he said with a wink, “We are Catholic!”

Since then, it’s been “winner takes all” … the Hershey Kisses or pennies we put in the pot after dinner. We’ve also branched out to Space Bingo, Saints Bingo, and Bird Watcher’s Bingo, so we’ve even learned a little along the way.

“We didn’t know we were making memories — we just thought we were having fun.” I read that anonymous quote the other day and immediately thought of all the talks and walks and rounds of Bingo we would have missed if it hadn’t been for the shut downs. And in that moment of gratitude, I certainly felt like a winner.