I’m a PokeMom

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There are those of us who have just dreamed of the day when they could catch a Pokemon in the wild. Likely when we were children and the little creatures were all the rage, but nevertheless, it planted the seed. Well, friends, the time has come to put on our ball caps and backpacks, and answer the call to be a Pokemon Trainer with Pokemon GO!

Pokemon GO family, PokemomOne thing I bet we didn’t realize as we painted this mental fantasy back in the day is that we would possibly be parents by the time it came to fruition. So, here we are, not just your ordinary Pokemon Trainers but PokeMoms and PokeDads.

Pokemon is taking social media by storm lately and is loved by people of all ages. Personally, it takes me back to the days when my sister would collect all the cards she could get her hands on, and we would watch Ash and Pikachu cartoons in the afternoons every day after school. We each had our favorites and when Pokemon GO game came out I was finally able to have a little Charmander of my own! (She got Squirtle, naturally.)

pokemonI’m aware this sounds silly, possibly ridiculous to some, for an adult to go out and hunt fictional creatures on their cell phones, but do you know who else is entertained by these new adventures? My four-year-old daughter. My husband and I will show her the Pokemon as they pop up in the neighborhood and she will fling the red and white PokeBall at them and catch them for us. It is some type of magic in her eyes. And there really isn’t a whole lot I won’t do to see that look on her little face. She absolutely loves the little Pokemon!

There are several other parents I know who have also used this game to entertain and interact with their kids. My friend spent a week collecting Pokemon in secret to surprise his 14 year-old son. Another friend uses it as a reward incentive for her younger sons, and then uses it to bond with her older, preteen son by going out and having a friendly competition against each other. She told me he will use both their phones while she is driving and sometimes “forget” to grab PokeStops and will “accidentally” miss catching them on her phone. They will laugh about it afterwards. (I would like to point out that she is still a higher level, because we PokeMoms are awesome like that.)

There is also the fact that Pokemon GO is getting people out of their houses and walking around more. Hello, fitness! Nightly walks have been renewed and lengthened to increase the odds of catching a random, rare Pokemon hiding nearby. It’s giving a bit more variety to our kids’ routines, too, as I know people have been park hopping to places they otherwise might not have visited to catch some new creatures.

Need some tips, fellow PokeParents? My friend said Laurelhurst Park is a hot spot for Scyther, Normandale Park has plenty of Shellder, and in Woodstock Park you’re likely to find a Magmar roaming around. I’ve had great success down at the waterfront for all types of water Pokemon and even some bigger catches like Rhyhorns or Tauros.

Get out there and enjoy this beautiful weather in our city while you’ve gotta catch ’em all!

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Jennifer C.
In her lifetime, Jennifer has lived in the North, East, South, and West of the continental U.S. But the Pacific Northwest stole her heart when she was stationed in Washington with her husband who was in the Navy. Jennifer and Jeff have known each other for 16 years, since middle school, but they have been together for 5.5 years and married for 5 of those. They have an adorably rambunctious and frighteningly intelligent 3.5 year old daughter named Athena Rae. Athena was recently diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum. So, Jennifer and Jeff are learning the ropes kind of as they go, as they delve into the world of being special needs parents and advocates for their daughter. Jennifer is a stay at home mom who loves to read and write in any free time that might come her way throughout her days filled with her typical Momming errands and appointments. You can find her personal blog at MommyKeepsItReal.com

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