This post is to show people have much videogames can help you through the tough times. In my twenty-two years of being in this world, like most people, I have encountered a lot of stress. I was born into a drug abusing and violent family that was selfish and uncaring. The only way my brother and I could deal with the stress was with videogames. Games gave us a place where we could separate ourselves from the crazy family we had around us.




To understand my perspective, I am the oldest in the family with only one sibling. My mother loved to jump from town to town trying different men and different drugs. This happened for about 16 years (birth to 16) till I was old enough to escape the harsh environment. In between jumping from town to town my grandparents would come and pick me up to stay with them over the summer so I could get away from it. This is when my grandpa gave me my first console at the age of five, the Atari 2600. It was an extraordinary piece of technology and I have very fond memories of it. After I visited I would have to go back to my mothers with my new console only to have it stolen or pawned because of her drug abusing habits. I would break down in tears every time this happened. Once my grandparents caught on to what she was doing with my consoles (she would lie and say I broke it) they had me just keep it at their house. It sucked because they live hours away and I only saw them three times a year. So I said goodbye to videogames.

When my brother was two (I think I was 6 or 7) I finally got a NES (because of my grandparents again) and was so happy. I remember going to get a game and crying on my way home in the back seat of the car because I was so happy. As time went by my brother and I got new systems. When we were older we got smarter and hid our games and systems from our mother so she wouldn’t pawn them. It was so horrible and I couldn’t imagine doing that to my own son. When we got a 64 (I think one of our mom’s boyfriends bought it for NASCAR 64) we played it when we could. Shortly after this she left him and decided to go to New Mexico.

In New Mexico I was 14 and finally old enough to go out and mow lawns to save money for the G-cube. It took along time, but it was worth it. We played that countless nights escaping reality. A year later my mother got busted by the state and I moved back to live with my Father. My brother had to go to my aunts since he wasn’t old enough, by state, to make his own decision. It was very said to be separated from my bro and to this day I hate not being able to see him. I’m 22 and he is now 15. I overcame life’s difficulties, got an education and a good job. My and my bro still play games together over the internet, buts it’s not the same. It was so much more fun being able to punch when he beat me lol.

So long story short. Videogames have helped me out a lot. Who knows what would have happened if I didn’t have them. It feels good to be able to play games at home without the fear of losing them. Games will always hold a place in my heart.




I don't want anybody to feel sad for mr. I just want to let you know how much games mean to me. Thanks for reading.