PS 2, Nintendo, X-Box. Whatever you want to call it, I'm convinced it was sent here straight from the pit to torture moms. Is it just my family, or do your kids turn into little monsters, fighting and jockeying for their game time?
My youngest has just started playing with her brothers. That makes four kids arguing over the Nintendo. I've tried everything. I've limited their time playing by using a kitchen timer, but that sometimes sets me up for more trouble.
"Mom, he went over his time again!"
"Hey, give me that it's my turn."
"Moooom!"
Crash! Bang! Whine!
Then we moved the games into my oldest son's room.
"Mom, they're in my room again!"
"Yes, I know. I said they could play Nintendo."
"But there destroying the place..."
Slam! Bang! Whine!
"Mom, he locked me out of the room again."
Recently my son got the tv and games taken out for not letting his brothers into his room. This has been an ongoing problem we haven't figured out how to solve yet. How can he have his privacy and keep the little ones from tearing up his room when the family game unit is in his room? Just take it out! Problem solved, somehow I don't think so. Well see.
How about the "mom, he's not letting me win!" whine. Or the "mom, he turned off the game" scuffle. Did I meniton I think these games are sent from the evil one?
During the school year our kids were not allowed to play the games during the week and only 30 minutes each day on the weekend. My kids thought I was sent from the evil one, especially when their friends played hours after school.
"Mom, so and so gets to play as long as he wants."
"I've talked to so and so's mom and that's not true."
"A different so and so says he feels sorry for me and that you're the meanest mom in the world."
Well, then I talked to some moms about this problem and learned that one mom made her children earn game time. As much as they practiced piano, they could play PS2. Guess what we're doing this summer?
One son is playing a lot of piano, the other is doing a lot of complaining.
"Mom, why do we always have to earn fun?"
"Do you have to earn time at the water park, the movies, sleepovers?"
"No." Head hung low in defeat.
Subtle grin of satisfaction on my face.
But I'm not a complete ogre. I often surprise them with free game time, espcially when friends are over. Still, I'm thinking of putting the game systems away for a while. I did this once when the fighting and never ending question "when can we play PS2?" was driving me up a wall. I had a very peaceful few months without the kids asking to play.
I'm at that point again, ready to pack up the games. Just moments ago I heard arguing from up stairs, now all is quiet. It's one of those free game times, and I figure as long as they're quiet and happy I'm be able to type away. So, are these game systems sent from the evil one or a blessing from God? I guess it all depends when you ask me!
3 comments:
Funny, and good thoughts. Sounds like you are doing a good job of monitoring all this.
Thank you for sharing this! My oldest is 3 1/2; so I appreciate the wisdom and warnings! :) I've been stunned to find that many people have more TVs (with games) in their homes than their are people. I vow to never put a TV or computer/game system in my children's rooms. I need to write that down and sign it now. ;)
Honey,
I made the same vow before I had kids. But I also found that having a tv with a game system in their rooms gives me and my other kids the opportunity to watch something when they're playing. :)
So stick to your guns until it becomes too much of a hassle for you. I just hated listening to the gaming on the tv in the livingroom.
Tvs in rooms are okay if there are specific limits. My kids DO NOT watch tv in their room without permission and then it's only on Saturday morning and an occassional movie with permission.
I know too many kis who fall asleep with the tv and watch it all day. My kids hardly watch tv, just an occassional video during the school week. And we're going back to gaming ONLY on the weekends!
Post a Comment