Addictions...

Trina here...

Well I know everyone has their "addictions". Maybe chocolate, a certain beverage, working out and the list goes on. Well Michael's addiction is video games. This kid's mind is constantly racing and needs constant stimulation so the video games are actually good for him. (Sorry Michael, you inherited that from me.) Normally there are negative associations with video games, however, they do have their advantages. Think of the hand/eye coordination necessary to make Mario and Luigi jump through their worlds using the small buttons on a DS!  Some games provide activity like boxing against the Wii characters that are really good! The problem is when you beat the games and reach the end, then what? Michael received a DS from Santa last Christmas with a few games. Well if you have ever seen a DS game, they are tiny. Why on Earth do they make games for kids that small?? Anyway, we have lost a few of the games he received which leaves him with his Mario game, some Lego battle game and "Science Papa" ( I couldn't resist.) Well he doesn't care for the Science Papa, which after playing it I don't blame him and the Lego game is not really his style. He is not interested in battling knights and the medieval time period.  Anyway, he has reached the end of his Mario game, with Joe's help, several times and he keeps replaying the game. 

So you might be saying, "Get to the point Trina!" Well, my point is...I am asking for more advice. Michael is our first school age child and now he sees what the other kids have and REALLY wants everything.  We used to be able to distract him and encourage him to save his money, but now the items he wants are really expensive. He actually wanted us to not buy groceries so we could get him a new Wii game! We can't afford to keep buying him games. How do you deal with the constant trying to keep up with other kids knowing full well that is not healthy? Share your expertise everyone. :)