The Dark Side.

I am at another crossroads in parenting.

I find myself eating my words, "I would NEVER..." once again.

I have said that I'd never buy my kids a video game system. I just don't really like them. I am not good at video games and I would much prefer my kids outside playing.

HOWEVER...

Our friends the Browns have a Wii and they will occasionally come over and have a Wii date with my kids. I have said, "It works out great because we don't have a Wii and they don't have a television, so you put us together and it works out great. Instant community." I will admit it is pretty fun. I was WHIPPING the kids on one of the games. It was like a big tournament and I was the winner. Well, at least until our 56 year old nanny, Felecia, got a turn. I can't compete with that lady's stamina and guns.

Our kids have told us that we "NEED" a Wii. I laughed out loud at them and said, "Never. We are NEVER having one."

HOWEVER...

It is really much easier to just buy some family gifts this year.

It will be easy to transport.

The Wii is really a group game so it doesn't make kids lazy... right?

There are a lot of educational games, right???

(Can you see me grasping at straws to justify my turning around on my "I'd NEVER" statement?)

All those things might be good or bad justifications but if I am honest, it simply comes down to this--

• I want my children to love me and not be mad at me that I am not going to be there for Christmas. ;) So the least I can do is try to buy their love, right? ;)
  
• I want our house to be the "cool house" for our missionary/ex-pat friends to come over and chill. I think this can buy the love of our friends too. ;)

See? Look how happy this lady is. She has a Wii. I am pretty sure it will make us that happy too-- at least until a power surge fries it... Then I will be back to the drawing board as to how to win over my children, staff, and neighbors. This at least buys me a little time... ;)

So yes, I admit it. We are headed over to the dark side. I am eating my words.

And Felecia, fair warning-- I am coming after you... This isn't over.