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Author:
Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

JUST FOR YOU!!
Miss Know-it-All's Advice
HOW TO:
Virtual PJ Party
Part 1

HOW TO:
Virtual PJ Party
Part 2

January 14, 2021

Family Night Game Over!

Hi everyone! Today we have a special letter from Max Crumbly! Max is the guy on the right, and he’s playing a board game with his older sister and his little brother in the striped shirt.

In case you didn’t know, Max is Brandon’s best bud. He’s asking for advice about the headache of being stuck hanging out with family members all day long for months on end due to the pandemic. I’m sure that many of us are struggling with this same problem.

Okay, so here is Max’s letter…

What’s Up Nikki,

My family is big on having weekly game nights so that we can be together, bond, laugh and all that stuff. We do everything from board games to trivia to video games. But lately, everyone (including me!) is getting really impatient, competitive and a little bit mean about who’s winning. How can we get back to having fun?!

Max Crumbly, aka “Grumpy Grumbling Gamer”

Hi Grumpy Grumbling Gamer,

You know that phrase, “Distance makes the heart grow fonder?” Yeah, I think it’s probably true, because there hasn’t been much distance between the family members in my house lately, and my feelings for Miss Penelope (my sister’s hand puppet) have definitely NOT grown fonder! ☹

Example: Brianna keeps saying that she and Miss Penelope want another sleepover with me in my super comfy bed, but the last time I agreed to THAT ridiculousness, I woke up on the floor (Brianna claimed that Miss Penelope kicked me off the mattress. . . I have my doubts).

Seriously, I definitely get what you’re going through—I mean, it’s not easy in a normal year to hang out with my family on a game night. Picture this:

  • One Monopoly Board
  • One Hand Puppet (aka, Miss Penelope) wearing the Hat game piece while eating three other game pieces.
  • One Dad reading the rules while wearing a t-shirt saying “This RoachMaster Rules!”
  • One Mom trying to stop our dog Daisy (and my sister Brianna) from eating too many snacks.
  • One Sister stealing fake paper money because she’s trying to bribe the tooth fairy into never visiting anyone again (long story).
  • One ME watching the clock and wondering when I can call my friends and write about all this madness in my diary.

You got all that? Okay, now whip it all up and let it bake for about an hour. You want to know the results? Here’s what usually comes out of the family game oven:

  • One Tantrum (most often from Dad or Miss Penelope)
  • One Wildly-Contested Game (with rules that change ALL the time)
  • One Tired Family (who all declare themselves winners by eating dessert)

So yes, our game nights are always a little bit messy. But fast-forward to game nights happening more and more often, like they have this year for me and you…

Well yeah, that was always bound to blow up like a last-minute, badly-researched, extra-hot-sauce-infused science fair volcano, right?!?!

We’ve all been kinda cooped up in our houses more than normal lately, and we’ve been spending lots of extra time with our family, which is AWESOME in some ways and AWFUL in others. Bottom line: it’s normal to have a few stingy sparks flying around on game night.

Here’s my advice:

  1. Let one family member choose a game for the evening. Respect the choice and play that family member’s game! Rotate the games so that everyone gets to play something that they enjoy now and then.
  2. Create a jar of joke breaks. If things get heated, make your Uncle Oscar (or whoever) reach into a jar and tell a pre-written joke! It sounds silly, but so does having your Uncle Oscar tell silly jokes. It’ll break up the tension!
  3. Give out strips of paper to everyone at the beginning of the game that say “My Bad!” If somebody’s rude (and others call them out on it), they have to give out a “My Bad!” strip that entitles everyone else to ask for a favor.
  4. Rather than having a Game Night, have each family member suggest a different activity that would still encourage togetherness—like having a Zoom meeting with someone you all know, or cooking something together, or watching a movie and doing a book club thing—the possibilities are endless!

Okay, readers, now it’s YOUR turn—is spending extra time with your family driving you KA-RAY-ZEE? Do you have any advice for our friend, Max Crumbly?

Category: Ask Nikki nikki

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  • All comments MUST be on topic!
  • Comments that either request advice or offer advice will NOT be posted if they are OFF-TOPIC.
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Comments

  1. Dorky kitten says

    January 15, 2021 at 7:05 am

    Max I. SOOOOO SORRY this is happening to you. My deepest sympathy it happens to me as I have a bratty little sister but I do love her too! Try to get along with your family please.

  2. sorry girl says

    January 15, 2021 at 6:37 am

    no sorry

  3. Anonymous says

    January 15, 2021 at 6:00 am

    The room prob with me!!

  4. Mackenzie says

    January 15, 2021 at 3:22 am

    Huh. I thought you created both characters, Max AND Nikki?
    So you’re writing to yourself… about your character’s fake problem.
    That’s weird.

    • lucky leaf says

      January 15, 2021 at 8:24 am

      maybe……..

    • Anonymous says

      January 15, 2021 at 10:11 am

      there trying to show two people

    • Soppy says

      January 15, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Your right Mackenzie, why do they try and make these character’s act so real? They do know that there doing a terrible job at it.

    • Sansagilryprincess says

      January 15, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      Yes! Nikki Russell or Rachel Renee Russell created the dork diaries characters!
      That means they are writing it to their self! That problem is fake. Please Nikki answer to who actually needs help!

    • Anonymous says

      January 15, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      Grand Cross.

  5. Chloe Garcia says

    January 15, 2021 at 2:36 am

    Great job Niki! Hopefully Max is feeling better!

  6. Anonymous says

    January 15, 2021 at 1:40 am

    My family (especially my little) gets a little angry when I win.

  7. Tava says

    January 15, 2021 at 12:55 am

    Hmmmmmmmmm. That’s a BAD problem
    I can get competitive to

  8. XxWolfieChicxX says

    January 15, 2021 at 12:51 am

    My family drives me crazy, pandemic or not. Gets on my nerves no lie. My brother only plays with me because he always wins because he is 2 and a half years older. NERVES, PEOPLE!!

  9. Mackenzie Hollister says

    January 14, 2021 at 9:36 pm

    Imagine writing to yourself and solving your own fake problems instead of answering those who ACTUALLY need help

    • DM/ says

      January 15, 2021 at 12:09 am

      Yeah!! I sent about A HUNDRED problems I am facing and an answer to not even ONE!
      ☹️

    • Glory says

      January 15, 2021 at 2:10 am

      Agreed. Nikki, answer people!

    • CCP girl says

      January 15, 2021 at 2:22 am

      I totally agree .

    • WishNikkiWasReal says

      January 15, 2021 at 7:04 am

      Yes i agree lol

    • tiffany says

      January 15, 2021 at 7:20 am

      haaa bff so funny

    • Dork 4 EVER!!! says

      January 15, 2021 at 7:59 am

      I agree

    • Teehee says

      January 15, 2021 at 9:42 am

      -_-

    • Sansagilryprincess says

      January 15, 2021 at 10:30 am

      I agree too. Max is just a character. He doesn’t need real help. Please answer to those who really need help Nikki including me. I have wrote like a 40 or 50 mails and you still haven’t answered me!

    • Anonymous Mustash says

      January 16, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      Yeah!!

  10. Keeprofthelostcitiesgeek says

    January 14, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    That is an awesome idea Nikki!

  11. BrandonMaxwell says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:59 pm

    I sent a letter to Rachel Renee Russell, hopefully the letter gets there…

  12. Anonymous is my naaaaaaaaaaaaa says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    Shipped names:
    Brandon & Nikki: BraNikki
    Maxwell (or Max) & Chase: ChaseWell

    • BrandonMaxwell says

      January 15, 2021 at 12:31 am

      Maxwell & Erin: MaxwErin
      Max & Erin: MErin
      Best Ship

  13. I’m tied of this! HELP! says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    Max,you have my DEEPEST SYMAPTHY! Ever night that’s how it is every.single.TIME.

  14. trivia girl says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:36 pm

    Create a jar of joke. yourself and you know all the answer

    just for fun
    and if you don’t win every time do a thing you know the anwer
    because if you don’t win it’s not funny

    trivia girl

  15. HAHAHA says

    January 14, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    I totally agree to Max!

  16. mymissunicorn says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    Thanks, Nikki. Love your idea.

  17. Dorky Wolf says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    well max if you want to get your family back to fun game night maybe you should play a game were there is no winner or loser like twister or hedbanz or you can have a movie night.

  18. Joanna says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    I love your books good job Nikki

  19. trollsforu says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    play with ur pet! it’ll be fun!

  20. More CCP than other CCPs says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:09 pm

    can you write shorter?

    • malaila love CCP says

      January 15, 2021 at 8:17 am

      yes get it girl/boy

  21. Doeky says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:49 pm

    Amazing

  22. Dorky Drama Queen says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    If my family is driving me crazy I just lock myself in my room and watch tv or play video games with my friends.

  23. Dorky D says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    Did you make this question because it was frequently asked???

  24. ibecoolru says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    i dont like max crumbly

    • Anonymous says

      January 15, 2021 at 12:33 am

      Max Crumbly: Angry Frown ):(

  25. ComputerAddict says

    January 14, 2021 at 5:51 pm

    I never even do anything… sooooooooo boring!

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