Pull Up A Chair

In our house, video games are only played on weekends. This eliminates homework confusion and the possibility of my children ending up with mush for brains.

On Saturday mornings, the boys get up at the crack of dawn in order to get their two hours of playing time in before we wake up and demand the TV be turned off in favor of country music on the radio. Call me weird, but I hear so much yapping during the week,  it's nice to hear Toby Keith singing about his favorite bar. 

Today was no different except I was up before them. My eleven year old wanders out and begins telling me about a Pokemon game.  I hold my hand up, which is a reminder of the rule; no talking to mom for at least 30 minutes after she wakes up.  While he sits there pondering a different way to communicate, the nine year old enters the room. He merely grabs my neck and kisses my cheek, a ritual since he started walking. He then whispers, 'Mama, may we play video games if we keep the volume low?"

Music to my ears...video games on low and no children yapping at me before I get the coffee brewed.  Naturally, the request was granted.

While scanning the paper, I suddenly hear shouts of, "Die you BEAST!" and "Quit shooting me or I'M TELLING MOM!!" It simmered down as I rose out of my chair so I settled back in with that gnawing feeling of irritation.

Suddenly, I hear shrieking, a "whack" and then a scream. Fully upright now and marching towards the family room, I am muttering, "If they wake up their dad there's going to be HELL to pay in this house!"

Upon entering the room, I see two little boys intently focused on the TV screen. I catch slight movement coming from the oldest and watch as he clobbers his brother for "shooting his bot." Instantly, the youngest shrieks again and kicks his brother, which of course causes him to howl. I come unglued.

"TURN THE GAME OFF NOW!"

Startled and a little scared, they shut the game down. As they leave the room, the youngest walks by and says, "You shouldn't yell like that Mom, you'll wake up Dad."