I've Conquered Video Games

A major breakthrough I have done very lately is conquering the world of video games.

Six years ago, Joshua at the age of 3 was first exposed to the world of video games when one night his dad installed Warcraft in our computer (without my permission!). At four he was already playing R-18 video games in the computer. Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, name it, he's probably played it. Although, he also had educational games like Jumpstart, his preference was on the excitement provided by the violent games.

And maybe you would ask why I allowed it? Because I played them too. Dad oftentimes played with Josh and it seemed like everyone's enjoying, so who would resist. It didn't bother me then as Josh was doing well in school, really doing well to make it to the honors list.

But things started to change when his dad was assigned an overseas work and has gotten the money and opportunity to buy our first game console - The XBOX 360. Don't get it wrong, I objected to the idea of buying any game console but heck, what can I do when he just came home with the console already in his luggage.

However, it didn't end there. Next came PS2, soon there's Sony PSP and Nintendo DS Lite.

As most video games does, Josh got hooked with video games buying cd's after cd's. Back in the Philippines it is very easy to get addicted to video games as there are thousands of PIRATED games sold anywhere at just 5-10% the price of original video games, how convenient! Imagine buying a pirated version of Gears of War for just P150.00 (US$3.00) than buying the original CD for almost a hundred bucks and still get the same fun.

Looking back, I regretted every moment that I wasn't able to take control of my son's playing habit. A busy schedule sometimes necessitates parents to let their kids play video games to keep them busy too and avoid interfering with the parents busy schedule. In short, letting the video games or tv do the baby sitting. How bad of me! This has taken a toll on Joshua's studies. He was playing more than he was studying and his attention span affected.

But one day, the breakthrough happened. Our moved to Singapore provided me the big opportunity to finally put almost everything behind, literally. The Xbox which was due for repair was left in Manila while the PS2 went to the custody of my nephew.



Yes, I am proud to say that Jehu and my son Josh has finally accepted the reality (with a heavy heart) that there will be NO MORE game console in our living room and yesterday while we were at the mall, they tried to sweet talk me to allow them to have even just a Wii. NO, NO, NO! My answer is final and I'm not going to give in.

Since we had given up those addictions, Josh is into drawing again. Now, he's into animation. I wouldn't mind. Just no violent and addicting games.

Affirmation of Values

Have I become a better person through the years? What have I accomplished so far from what I envisioned myself to be? What do I wish to do, what do I wish to become?

I am a person with no clear directions in life. Despite having been blessed with intellectual intelligence and swept primary, high school and college with consistent honors, I haven’t really attained much in life. The only trophies I am so proud of are my two sons and my family. They’re what I cannot trade with anything else, yet, I am still no good with parenthood. More so, I haven’t been successful in becoming an ideal wife material. I admit, these are my utmost goals and they are by far the most difficult to achieve.

I have simple dreams now. First, I want to be remembered as a loving mother to my kids. I want them to look back at their growing years and see me as someone who they can talk to freely, who they can count on through good and bad and who raise them in a home full of love. I want them to grow in a home where love and warmth is felt all day long. As a wife, I want to be one who is understanding and sensitive to the needs of my husband. One who speaks only of love and nurture that love until old age and til death do us part.

What is happening now is not leading to what I envisioned to be. My actions are not in conformity with my personal goals. I had alienated Joshua from me. Now he hardly listens to me, he hardly talks to me the way we used to. I haven’t been listening to him sincerely. I have spent more time with other less important things instead of sparing a time with him and Joseph for play. As a wife, I have been overly nagging at my husband. I haven’t been giving him warm attention and have been harsh to him in words.

Today, I am realigning these values, therefore I will not promise to amend myself, instead I will reaffirm that…

To my kids,

I am a loving and kind mother. I am only using kind words whenever I speak to them.

I am disciplining them in a way they will understand.

I am not using threats to get what I want done.

I am spending more time with them and set aside chores that can wait.

I am nurturing their minds and values through proper teaching and example.

I love them unconditionally whether they behave or not.

I feed them nutritious foods.

I am not using harsh words whenever I get mad at them.

To my husband,

I am a loving and understanding wife

I am soft spoken and not asserting that I am always right at all times

I am selfless and giving to his needs

I am holding our marriage with the highest esteem, protecting it from all threats that may arise through a more open and non-threatening communication

I am only using kind words when speaking to him.

As a daughter and sister,

I am thoughtful and more expressive of my love for my parents and sister.

As a child of God,

I am not arrogant when dealing with other people.

I am using only kind words when communicating to any person, whatever their status in life is.

I am obedient to the laws of nature and the laws of heaven.

I am attuned with nature.

I take care of myself as this body is the temple of God and is being lent as gift that I should take care of.

I am not wishing any person ill.

I am not attaching myself to material things.

I am generous in sharing blessings to the needy.