Ex-Box

We bought an X-Box for William and James just before William started at secondary school, because we didn't want them to be the odd ones out. I can honestly say that since that day it has been a source of concern, negativity, aggression and conflict. On all sides.

Over time we've had to...
  • Lock the room the X-Box is kept in 
  • Lock the controllers in the gun safe
  • Stage temporary X-Box bans
  • Demand back the money that's been spent unwittingly on downloading games at the touch of the wrong button
And diffused endless fights over...
  • What game to play
  • When to play
  • How long to play for
  • To play separately or together
  • And the ultimate - when to switch the (damn) thing off. 
On Friday the red mist descended on me and this time, was not to be denied by temporary measures. After yet another hour of bickering over which creatures to spawn in Ark, the end came when James lost his temper and switched off the machine, only to be chased up the stairs and punched by William.

Howling with rage I sent both boys to their rooms, unplugged the machine and secreted both it and its controllers in a location to remain undisclosed. Enough.

Yesterday the boys spent the day looking and acting as if they too had been unplugged. It was like watching two addicts going through cold turkey only without the sweats/vomiting etc. They went from wandering around like zombies, to all out aggression; railing the unfairness of the universe and their parents.

Today however, there has been a breakthrough. Not only have they both spent an hour swimming, but they are, as I type, scooting down to the skate park and back. Both activities have been their suggestions, and so far, we have had no arguments of any kind.

Long may it continue. Down with the machines!

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