Trial and Error

So the boy is OBSESSED with playing video games, specifically Minecraft.  In an attempt to keep his brain from disintegrating completely, my initial plan of attack was to only allow 1 hour a night during the week, and then unlimited on the weekends.  Unlimited on the weekends sounds like a lot, but we usually have at least 2 things going on (playdate, grammy's, grocery shopping, etc) so it gets broken up.  And that worked for a while.  Until XBox Live came along.  XBox Live is a service you PAY for ($5 a month, not a big deal) that allows you to talk to other people playing games.  That really didn't interest me that much for my 8 year old, cheap or not.  But then all the craze happened over Minecraft, which can ONLY be played if you have XBox Live.  Yeah, ridiculous.  So, we gave in.  And I have to admit, it is completely adorable listening to him and his friends just act like goofy little boys-giggling over farts, coming up with silly names for the "maps" they create, etc.  While most people/kids talk through headphones, I learned that there is an option in the settings where you can turn the sound on so that it can be heard through tv.  So I can hear EVERYTHING.  This I like.  For the obvious reasons. 

 
We also had to establish certain "predator rules" because other random people that you don't know can ask to join your "XBox Live Party."  If you look back at the first pic, you will notice this list posted on the entertainment system so there will be no "Oh, I forgot..."  (interesting how kids totally take over decorating...)  I'm pretty sure that Jacob is probably one of the few kids on Live that has to have his settings turned on for the whole family to hear, plus it is on the living room tv so, again, I hear IT ALL.  Call me overprotective.  But he doesn't care.  Now, here in lies the problem:  obviously he wants to spend his precious hour playing with his friends, but he can't know exactly when they are getting on.  So if he gets on at 6, plays for an hour, and just as he is getting off, other kids get on...well, you can imagine the pitifulness.  And how can I say no to him wanting to socialize??? So I had to devise another plan.  After a couple more trial and error strategies, here is the final one for weekdays:  he is allowed to get on at 7:00.  At that point he can play until bedtime, which is 9:00.  This gives us time for homework, track practice, dinner, etc.  AND, because he is a typical boy who can't sit still, he kills time by going outside and playing basketball, etc.  The other boys usually get on around this time as well and have to get off about the same time for bed.  So it's working. So far. 

**I decided to make this post because I think it will be interesting to look back on my "good parenting" attempts in the future....I'm sure I will laugh hysterically...