Watson: No doubt about it, Connect Four most popular game ever

I know the most popular kid's game ever in America.

Yes, that’s a big statement. Most of you will disagree with me, but allow me to share.

Taylor, my 6-year-old, daughter is all about playing games. Christmas came and Santa blessed us with not only Connect Four, but two gifts of Connect Four.

“Mom, I didn’t ask Santa for two of the same games, did Santa not get my list?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mommy knows, sometimes it just happens.”

A few minutes later I had to come up with some quick thinking to explain as to why Santa delivered us two of the same gift. So in that moment, in the glorious mess of wrapping paper scattered all over my house, no diet Coke in my system, and I think I may have had a few bows stuck to my shirt I did what I thought would be an easy task.

“He delivered two because he wants you to give one to someone who doesn’t have one in the new year!”

It’s normally not like Santa to deliver two of the same gifts to the Watson household. Usually Santa is on top of his game. And now, somehow, in some way, in her own little world, my daughter has it in her head that if she doesn’t give away this game to someone who doesn’t have one, she’s going to end up on Santa’s naughty list next year.

So, what’s a mom to do?

Text everyone in her phone who she knows has kids and ask: “Do you have a Connect Four game?”

Well, it seems like everyone has it. Or at least everyone I know who has a child. So now I’m panicking, as I want my kid off the naughty list.

So, I bring the game to work, and all the folks at the Midland Daily News with children have the game.

“I’m never going to get rid of this board game!” I screamed to my husband while folding socks one night.

One day, I thought of someone in the sports department with a young daughter. I put the game on his desk and didn’t even ask. There, I did it.

Nope.

I get a phone call from Dan two hours later.

“Rebecca, I already have this game. I’m putting it back on your desk.”

I could drop it off at a donation center, or I could try and put it up on a website and try to sell it. But now I just want to meet the family that doesn’t have this game, so I personally can thank them for taking it off my hands.

And so does my daughter.

She really wants to thank them for taking her off the naughty list.

We are still at our downtown location on McDonald Street for a few more months, although you probably recently read we will be moving to a new location on Main Street. So there is a Connect Four game on my desk waiting for a family that doesn’t have it.

I’m serious.

Rebecca Watson is general manager of the Midland Daily News. She can be reached at rwatson@hearstnp.com.