How My History with Pokémon Became Our Present

This was originally going to be a post about how my kids and I stay connected and engage with each other via Pokémon GO. It’s a post that we’ll surely come back to. What I found though is that talking about my history with the series (as well as that of my kids) is actually the best place to start. So, here’s my history with Pokémon and how my kids journeys began.

My history with Pokémon

I guess this kind of dates me a little; but I was at secondary (high) school during the first wave of Pokémon mania. I got lured in by a group of kids playing the trading card game and it spiralled from there.

Pokémon Red and Blue for the Gameboy were obtained shortly after…

I got Blue as a Christmas gift, Red however was far little less innocent. I’ve have never been smoker; however, did realise as a 12 year-old however that those who did smoke could be persuaded to part with £3-5 per cigarette. So, that’s what I did. In one day I raised the money for the game! It’s not something I’m proud of (and funny thing is I was always the perpetual good kid too) I just really wanted that game.

Want to know the funny thing about Pokémon Red?

I had to give mine (I bought it again later) to a kid called David as his was stolen from me. Why did I have his? I was selling a rare Pokémon unavailable in the game proper, Mew. Basically, I took the game cartridges home, used a cheat/hacking device to add one and then charged £10 for it. So, why did I give him my cartridge rather than use my profits? Well, he reported it as me having stole his game (not the case, it was stolen from me). So, rather than sacrifice my whole business venture, I had to play along with the whole thing and offered mine as punishment.

Karma is a right pain in the a**.

Dodgy Deals Aside…

I never quite lost interest in Pokémon; with each generation I continued to buy the games and be invested in the franchise. You know, even as an adult. The series appeals to my particular obsessions; it allows me to fixate on collecting or the statistical numbers as much or little as I need to depending on where my head is at.

So, in short; I am a long term (and I guess lifetime) fan.

My Son’s History with Pokémon

The eldest started paying attention to the series aged 4, when I channel hopped and found the anime on some channel or other. He loved the bright colours and being obsessed with animals already began to take a liking. He started asking me to put it on whenever I looked after him. Eventually, he began to notice the games and guides I had too and now (aged 6) is a full fledged Pokémaniac.

For him it started with the cartoon and then transitioned to toys, cards and most recently Pokémon Let’s Go and Pokémon Go (the former he plays himself and the latter a shared experience).

My Daughter’s History with Pokémon

There isn’t much too say really. The youngest Papalite is only 2 after all. Pokémon isn’t her favourite thing in the world but she knows a few names, likes to play with her brother’s toys and loves the noises the little monsters make in GO.

Our Present

So, here we are and it’s 2019. Not everything we do is Pokémon related but when together, we always do something Pokémon-centric. We look at books, the eldest will excitedly list off facts and my youngest will eagerly do an impression of the noise it makes. Sometimes we watch a cartoon and both will dance and sing to the theme tune. More commonly than all this though, we head out on GO walks together. Me guiding us, my son catching and my daughter eagerly touching the little pocket monster on the screen so that it lets out a call.

Once this was my thing. Now, it is our thing. I couldn’t be happier.