Revolution

I've long felt that video games are a curse of our generation. They consume so much of our childrens' time and thoughts. Time that could be better spent experiencing life.

For my kids, video games are addicting. Andrew and I have tried a plethora of systems for allotting video game time: minute for minute with their reading, rewards for extra chores or good behavior, only allowing them on Friday afternoons, etc. All of our experiments left me feeling like it was still an unnecessary evil for my kids.

And so they are gone.

We will not have video games in our house anymore. There are so many things that are more worthwhile and healthy.

Originally I felt guilt that my kids would not have what other kids have, or do what other kids do, but since when do I want my kids to be like other kids?

Have you ever stepped back and looked at what our kids do these days?

They can't put their cell phones down for even half an hour without texting someone, regardless of who they might be ignoring in their physical presence.

Kids and grown-ups alike talk on their cell phones while in the check out line at the grocery store or in a restaurant. They check their Facebook accounts and surf the internet while they are out with their spouses or friends. It's rude, people! Rude!

They have to have the DVD player turned on in the car, even for short little trips around town.

Kids, and even some parents, turn on their MP3 players whenever they are alone together, and thanks to the handy earphones, they can ignore each other and waste an opportunity to have an honest to goodness conversation. (The car is the best place to talk to your kids! They are trapped! No distractions! Turn the radio off and talk!!)

Kids are allowed to bring portable video games to social engagements and completely withdraw from what's going on around them because it's easier for parents to not have to supervise or discipline them.

Kids today have an endless supply of entertainment at their fingertips, but very few books, very few responsibilities. They are not taught proper social behavior. They consider themselves entitled to whatever they want. They think they are equal to their elders. They are lazy. They are disobedient and disrespectful.

I wonder why?

I apologize that I cannot talk about this subject without coming across as self-righteous. And I know there is the argument that all things should be in moderation. But for my kids, it can't be. It's all or nothing, and I pick nothing. I feel so strongly that we are doing our kids a disservice by making electronic entertainment such a priority in our lives. I think about what kind of men I want my kids to grow into, and nothing that is popular or cool or accepted as "the norm" these days is going to help them be what I want them to be.

So Andrew and I are going to turn our backs on most of these things. We are going to provide our kids with the things they need to be good, productive men. Not grown-up kids.



End rant. Tomorrow I'll talk about all the ways in which I am not perfect. Deal?