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skid's brain is fried from video games

Greenfig's picture

Submitted by Greenfig on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 4:01pm

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Parenting Issues

Skid sits 4 hours a night playing hand held videogames a night. Oh sorry, she takes a break to eat dinner and watch TV. She is 7 years old.

For years I have tried to include her into some activities that I thought she might be interested. She would do it for 15 minutes then she looses her interest.
Oh, she likes to count money (but I think that's from BM Wink )

So, she sits on the couch cross eyed, since she holds the game so close, and she sticks her tongue out while she plays. Sorry this is going to sound bad, but when she does this, she looks like she has some congenital defect. Her eyes crossed, drooling, tongue curled out.

I have repeatedly asked bf to limit the video games. He will do it for a week, then it's back to the same routine. I think these games are doing a disservice to her development. She is disconnected and detached emotionally. She already has a bipolar mother who has been forced by court to attend psychotherapy, so I am sure being with her BM is difficult too.

I try to have sit down dinners together and try talking to her, but she just shoves food in and goes back to video game playing.

I am not married to bf, so I feel like there is not much I can do aside from talking to bf.
I often feel tired of making so much effort to produce stability and think about things like brush your teeth, floss your teeth, asking her to participate in dinner such as putting the silverware out. Or fun things like "lets plant some plants, draw, make cookies". Otherwise she is just sitting there whining in a baby voice or playing video games.

I find it really bothersome and lacking in quality. Or maybe I am getting older (35) and this is how kids play now days. :?

Thetis's picture

Submitted by Thetis on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 4:16pm

I am not married to bf, so I feel like there is not much I can do aside from talking to bf.
~Getting married is not going to change how much control you have. The only thing you can do is talk to your boyfriend.
What is your custody/visitation set up? How often is she with you guys?

Amazed's picture

Submitted by Amazed on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 4:22pm

First, I'd like to agree with thetis about "getting married is not going to change how much control you have."

Second, you can't change her. You can't change your BF and you sure as heck can't change BM. If your BF doesn't give a flying f**k about his child's brain getting warped by the overstimulation videogames cause, then back off and let this fight go. If it bothers him, trust me, he will take the proper steps to rectify the problem and the videogames will be no more. If it doesn't bother the man, you don't need to bother yourself with it either because it will not change unless the parents change it. You can certainly express your concern to him but if you've expressed your view time and time again with little to no results...it's time to give up on that and let BF suffer the consequences of having a brain-fried kid. Sounds mean but really, what else are you going to do that you haven't already done to help this girl??

_______________________________________________________________________________
"Venting without the desire to look within and improve your situation is simply venting to hear yourself bitch."

"Never let the hand you hold, hold you down." ~Aut

vgill's picture

Submitted by vgill on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 9:22pm

When Sd is not there take all of the video games away and hide them. Only bring them out when you need alone time, or as a reward for good behavior but limit the time that they are used. I got rid of all of the video games 3 years ago, and yes they complained for a week or two but they no longer miss them. I sent them to BM's house, so when they are there for the weekend she can deal with the games.
So just get rid of them and hide them, tell BF what you have done and are doing it for SD's sake because you care!