Stephen received a Google Nexus 7 from my parents for Christmas. It was originally intended to be family gift but it ended up going to just Stephen. Not that any of that matters because the boys still play with it and consider it to be their tablet.

After we got to the condo on Christmas Day, Stephen downloaded the free version of Angry Birds and handed the Google Nexus 7 the boys. I told Stephen I felt as though we'd crossed over to the Dark Side.

I don't believe I've yet voiced my disdain for parents who do nothing but let their children play video games on any number of mobile devices. For some reason, I try to keep my more offensive thoughts to myself. But whatever, it's my blog. Stop reading if you let your two-year play with your iPhone - you'll probably be pissed at me because let there be no pretenses, I am judging you. Hard.

I'm also judging myself pretty hard. Nearly six weeks have passed since Christmas and the boys seem to be spending more and more time in front of one screen or another. It's cold outside. I'm currently trying to juggle more responsibilities than normal. All three boys have been stricken with either a cold or the flu.

What I'm saying is now that we have the Google Nexus 7 it's suddenly become a lot easier to give in. To just let them play games on either one of two laptops or the new tablet. Or to let them watch cartoons for hours on end while Stephen and I try to catch up on our sleep over the weekends.

But it's got to end! This is not the childhood I envisioned for my boys. No! I will not succumb!



And that's about as far as I've gotten with that parenting declaration. We've already failed at distributing screen time tickets in exchange for agreed upon chores. We've already failed at limiting screen time to 30 minutes each day following an invigorating jaunt outside for 30 - 40 minutes.

But fear not. I am sure I will come up with the perfect strategy for balancing screen time with the rest that life has to offer us - just as soon as I have the time or the energy. In the interim, I will continue to judge myself and second guess my parenting abilities. And most importantly, I will continue to believe that my babies are the most beautiful things on the plant, regardless that their heads glued to a tiny little screen and especially because they, on occasion, rock totally 80s homemade sweatbands.