Video Games II

On Second Thought,

Maybe yesterday's rant was a bit extreme.

Its not as if I believe that by playing violent video games, my son will become an axe murderer or grow up without a conscience. I do think that those types of games send a mixed signal. I do think that if played too much ( what is too much? I guess each parent decides what that is) that there can be negative consequences. Even if just means that kids aren't getting enough exercise because they prefer to get lost in the gaming. Or that kids forget how to speak in clear sentences or are short tempered if interrupted...this happens all the time here. What scares me, is the intensity with which the kids play and focus on the game, the winning, the points, the action. I never see that sort of focus on anything else.

Even Noah's friend who was over yesterday( one of the nicest boys I've ever met) shoved Emily pretty hard, knocking her over, while they were playing. She wanted to play too. She was in the way. I understand that. This is a boy who picks her up and carries her around. He usually holds her hand and loves her in the sweetest innocent way that I swear if I could arrange a future marriage between them, I probably would. After seeing him do that I just walked over, turned the TV off and said, "You're Done!" And Noah was mortified. He pleaded with me, he gave me intense, angry looks that told me I was the worst mother alive. And I was fine with that. I had seen enough, heard enough and more than that, I was confused. I didnt know whether I was angry with his friend for shoving Emily, angry with myself for not finding another activity for them, angry with the game, or that I have to monitor all of it.

Life would be so much easier if I could just throw it in the garbage.