natalie's sentiments: "Wii" have a problem here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

"Wii" have a problem here.

My parents got us a Wii for Christmas. We were thrilled. Now I can set up Active for myself (instead of borrowing my friend's console) and Shane gets to play some games he has been interested in. He went right out and bought Mario Brothers. That's all fine and dandy. However, when I came into the room the other day to find this scene, I nearly had a panic attack. I want to severely limit my children's exposure to video games. Playing together as a family is one thing. Mindless starting at the screen for hours...that is sooooo not happening. At the same time, I don't want to nag my husband about his playing. He really only plays once every week or two and if anyone deserves a little decompression time, it's him. Still, when I heard Lydia running down the stairs yelling to Shane that she wanted to watch him "beat the ghost house on the wii game", I died a bit inside.

13 PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:

Weeksie50 said...: lol- I have the same problem!I don't have kids.. but I am addicted.. I actually got up @ 3 in the morning.. to try again.. to get past that stinkin' 7th level.. Ugh!; JANUARY 15, 2010 1:23 PM
Misty said...: This is so funny! I love, love, love the look on Collin's face! Priceless!; JANUARY 15, 2010 2:08 PM
MamaOtwins+1 said...: We haven't had a game system in our house for this very reason! And I limit what the boys watch on TV. But I really do want a wii - maybe I can limit to only buying active games - for those cold and rainy days when no one goes outside.; JANUARY 15, 2010 2:10 PM
Cynthia said...: We bought the Wii for christmas for a family gift and my Husband had to get Mario Kart too! He loves it and played it for about four days straight after we got it! lol He got it out of his system and only plays it with the kids now. We also got the Karaoke revolution that us girls love. It is good family fun. But we do restrict the time so that it does not become an obsession!; JANUARY 15, 2010 3:21 PM
Canadiachik said...: Ah Natalie, I feel your distress! My husband too is a childhood nintendo-lover and I have been where you are now (actually, he also bought mario brothers this Christmas too, "for the kids"! I always stressed when a new game or system came along, worrying that our couple and family time would dissipate into mindless screen watching *ugh!* I now realize that my hub's playing comes and goes in phases, and like you, I think he is due his nostalgic down-time. We've had the wii for a few years now and it is the best system we've had by far. I don't even mind joining in every now and thenand we've had some fun family time together with it. I do have a rules I stick to strictly: no 1st person shooter games allowed, no kid gaming on weeknights, and chores/clean-up have to be done before playing. My kids aren't allowed to play for longer than an hour at a time - after that they get grouchy! Mostly I insist that Brian take the kids outside before or after playing to make up for their screen-time. I must say, everyone is good at sticking to the rules...and I get A LOT of homework/cleaning/good behavior mileage out of my 7 year old when 15 minutes of wii is his reward. Well worth it for me! I laughed at the picture of Collin watching so intently - each of my kids have been there!; JANUARY 15, 2010 3:28 PM
Stacy said...: LOL I feel for ya, I really do! My kids never stood a chance with their Daddy. My hubby plays every game known to man, just about, and is particularly hooked on World of Warcraft. Since he heads up a guild in it, he's on it ALL THE TIME. The look on Shane's face is all too familiar to me...; JANUARY 15, 2010 3:45 PM
Dionna said...: That is a darling picture. I can almost feel what you must have felt upon initial arrival into that room! I feel the same way as you about video games. My daughter saved up her babysitting money and got a wii. We've actually enjoyed doing it as a family and it does get you off the couch (well - except the Mario game. :) Now I have a wii fit. Okay - so I'm corrupted a little.; JANUARY 15, 2010 4:09 PM
Lianna Knight said...: That pictures is PRICELESS!!! :); JANUARY 15, 2010 5:58 PM
Are You Serious! said...: ♥ It's such a cute picture though!; JANUARY 15, 2010 6:22 PM
Anonymous said...: What an adorable picture. I especially like the way Shane had Collin secured in place with his leg. Glad you are all enjoying the gift. All things in moderation.Love you Mom; JANUARY 16, 2010 2:33 AM
Jessie said...: I battle this also. I got hubs a Wii for Father's Day b/c he was forever talking about wanting one. We maybe played it 3 times before Christmas. He surprised our family with a Just Dance game Christmas morning and the girls want to play it all the time now. I have limited them to only 2 times a week and only as a family. My goal is to maintain moderation :); JANUARY 16, 2010 9:57 AM
The Pampered Mom said...: I couldn't agree with you more about video games. The same thing happened but at my in-laws house ... they bought it and want the kids to come over in play ... ugh, I actually am just getting upset talking about it! :); JANUARY 16, 2010 6:14 PM
Sara Clifton said...: Yes, staring at a screen for too long can really fry your brain....I feel my eyes burning out now. Uggggggghhhh. Zooooombieeee girl... :); JANUARY 16, 2010 10:04 PM

13 comments:

Weeksie50 said...: lol- I have the same problem!I don't have kids.. but I am addicted.. I actually got up @ 3 in the morning.. to try again.. to get past that stinkin' 7th level..

Ugh!; January 15, 2010 at 1:23 PM
House Queen said...: This is so funny! I love, love, love the look on Collin's face! Priceless!; January 15, 2010 at 2:08 PM
MamaOtwins+1 said...: We haven't had a game system in our house for this very reason! And I limit what the boys watch on TV.
But I really do want a wii - maybe I can limit to only buying active games - for those cold and rainy days when no one goes outside.; January 15, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Cynthia said...: We bought the Wii for christmas for a family gift and my Husband had to get Mario Kart too! He loves it and played it for about four days straight after we got it! lol He got it out of his system and only plays it with the kids now. We also got the Karaoke revolution that us girls love. It is good family fun. But we do restrict the time so that it does not become an obsession!; January 15, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Canadiachik said...: Ah Natalie, I feel your distress!

My husband too is a childhood nintendo-lover and I have been where you are now (actually, he also bought mario brothers this Christmas too, "for the kids"! I always stressed when a new game or system came along, worrying that our couple and family time would dissipate into mindless screen watching *ugh!*

I now realize that my hub's playing comes and goes in phases, and like you, I think he is due his nostalgic down-time. We've had the wii for a few years now and it is the best system we've had by far. I don't even mind joining in every now and thenand we've had some fun family time together with it. I do have a rules I stick to strictly: no 1st person shooter games allowed, no kid gaming on weeknights, and chores/clean-up have to be done before playing. My kids aren't allowed to play for longer than an hour at a time - after that they get grouchy! Mostly I insist that Brian take the kids outside before or after playing to make up for their screen-time.

I must say, everyone is good at sticking to the rules...and I get A LOT of homework/cleaning/good behavior mileage out of my 7 year old when 15 minutes of wii is his reward. Well worth it for me!

I laughed at the picture of Collin watching so intently - each of my kids have been there!; January 15, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Unknown said...: LOL

I feel for ya, I really do! My kids never stood a chance with their Daddy. My hubby plays every game known to man, just about, and is particularly hooked on World of Warcraft. Since he heads up a guild in it, he's on it ALL THE TIME. The look on Shane's face is all too familiar to me...; January 15, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Dionna said...: That is a darling picture. I can almost feel what you must have felt upon initial arrival into that room!
I feel the same way as you about video games. My daughter saved up her babysitting money and got a wii. We've actually enjoyed doing it as a family and it does get you off the couch (well - except the Mario game. :)
Now I have a wii fit. Okay - so I'm corrupted a little.; January 15, 2010 at 4:09 PM
Lianna Knight said...: That pictures is PRICELESS!!! :); January 15, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Are You Serious! said...: ♥ It's such a cute picture though!; January 15, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Anonymous said...: What an adorable picture. I especially like the way Shane had Collin secured in place with his leg. Glad you are all enjoying the gift. All things in moderation.Love you Mom; January 16, 2010 at 2:33 AM
Jessie said...: I battle this also. I got hubs a Wii for Father's Day b/c he was forever talking about wanting one. We maybe played it 3 times before Christmas. He surprised our family with a Just Dance game Christmas morning and the girls want to play it all the time now. I have limited them to only 2 times a week and only as a family. My goal is to maintain moderation :); January 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Natalie "The Pampered Mom" said...: I couldn't agree with you more about video games. The same thing happened but at my in-laws house ... they bought it and want the kids to come over in play ... ugh, I actually am just getting upset talking about it! :); January 16, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Sara Clifton said...: Yes, staring at a screen for too long can really fry your brain....I feel my eyes burning out now. Uggggggghhhh. Zooooombieeee girl... :); January 16, 2010 at 10:04 PM