When our family relocated to British Columbia, Belle was only a tender thirteen years old - the perfect age for a mom to really dig in to the Annoying Your Child On Purpose game, most enjoyed by Moi. Ever the sport, I'm ride-or-die for AYCOP and it's sister competition, Annoy Your Grandchild On Purpose, aspiring to excel and constantly seeking ways to take it to the next level.
The first place we lived in the Lower Mainland was Abbotsford, where Chad Kroger of Nickelback fame had also made a home (he in a ridiculously fabulous mansion/us not so much.) Did he do this because it's a lovely Canadian place to live or to aid me with golden opportunities in my never-ending tournament? I think we all know the answer.
As we drove around acclimating ourselves to our new town those first few months, I would randomly shout out the window: "Chad! Chad! I'm here! Where are you?" With a kid about to start high school in a new province where she didn't know a soul, my seemingly random strikes were selective and strategically chosen for greatest impact while still maintaining the integrity and safety of participants. A brand new teenager is no competition for a seasoned AYCOP enthusiast and it can take years for them to appreciate lessons learned at the hands of a master. Likewise, payoff points can appear long into the future. One such gem appeared in my Twitter notifications today:
