We’ve always been good about limits on video games, TV, or  any kind of “screen time”, I thought.  My kids aren’t all into gaming and don’t spend HOURS watching TV a day.  However, we started to think a bit more about the time that they are on a game and how they started to feel somewhat “entitled” to have their “game time” when they got things done or when school was over or when they just wanted to! I didn’t care for some of the whines and complaining that comes when you ask them to turn it off.  Plain out got tired of it and realized its not something I want for my kids.  I don’t want them feeling a PULL from this world in our own home.  We decided to go on a fast from any type of video games (even the awesome educational ones we have on the iPad, and yes we have a bunch that I really love and that are super helpful).  Sunday will be a full week with nothing for them, and VERY LITTLE TV even!

The first couple days we had them asking, and complaining a few times about game time.  Something I’ve noticed and I’m liking is they figure stuff out to play! They get engrossed in something else, and its mostly outside.  My kids are ALWAYS outside but I love that they choose to go out even more when they aren’t having that “game time” or watching TV.  They used to watch a little cartoons (even good ‘ol fashion Looney toons) if they woke up early. Now they just find something to play and we are able to ease into Morning Time without a fight over the TV being on.

I don’t know how long to keep the fast going.  I had in my mind 3 weeks.  However, I don’t think Daddy will let that happen! HA! I’m really just wanting that pull/desire to get cleared out of them and then we can ease back in to a little game here and there but with much more limits!  I don’t want to be a Natzi about screen time, and make up a million rules! I just want less! I want less and I want that not to always be on their minds.  I know its nice to sit down and veg and watch TV after a long day, and for some people I know its enjoyable to play a video game.  However, there is a bit of an adiction that can happen and we just need to be good about setting up some guidelines and limits (like with anything in life really).  Take your phone for instance.  How many times to we “check” our phone a day? Why? I think its become an addiction. Brian and I are trying to set our phones up a lot more these days.  We don’t want that addiction and that HOLD that it has on us! Its not an easy thing to do! I love communicating on my phone.

Today was beautiful.  We spent the morning at the River.  The mud was awesome and I’m so thankful for the day! After the River we went home to clean up a little (because some got pretty muddy and wet) then back to the park for a picnic and play before naps and some school for the older boys.

Sometimes too,  I think its good to step back and look at our life and see how we can make some tiny changes for the better.  Better moods, better relationships, more creative fun, and overall more out of life when we make a change.