Bowser's Castle

Now those of you who grew up in the 80's like I did will have a healthy understanding of this post.  I'm sure you played Nintendo into the wee hours of the morning.  You mastered Duck Hunt, Pitfall and Super Mario Brothers.  Well my 5 year old has reintroduced me to the fun (and additiction) of video games. 
Wilson got a Nintendo DS for Christmas and like every other little boy in the world, we have had to pry it out of his hands when it was time to put it away. It got so bad that I decided to impliment a token system where Wilson could earn a token each day and then exchange it for video game time.  Sounds like a good plan right? Everything was going along just fine until the other day when Wilson said "Mommy can you help me. I'm stuck on this level and I can't get past it."  Now, I'm pretty sure I uttered something like "Sweet Heart, Mommy doesn't know how to play that game".  He insisted, begging "Can't you just try? I have to get past Bowser's castle!".   All of you mommies out there know you can't resist your kids sad little face when they are looking at you with those big eyes asking for help.  I took his DS and sat down on the couch.  Suddenly the familiar music of Mario Brothers is chirping along.  The little mushroom men are bouncing toward you and turtles are fast on your tail. I'm racing along picking up gold coins, breaking bricks, dodging snapping flowers and trying to get safely to the castle.  Wait a minute... I know this game, I'm good at this game.  Wilson looks at me with wide eyes and says "That's what I'm talking about Mommy!"  So here we are today.  Wilson and I play a little Super Mario Bros. every night.  It tends to get a little rowdy.  We occasionally get a "look" from Roger who must be thinking that I have lost my mind.  Last night he actually said and I quote "If you two don't settle down I'm taking that thing away from both of you". Wilson and I giggled and tried to be more quiet but within seconds we had been attacked by a flying turtle who was spitting flames!  We both lost our DS privileges for the rest of the night because we alomost woke up Sophi. 
So here are the lessons I take from this...
1. There does need to be a limit on the amount of time you let your kids play video games.
2. Play with your kids when they ask you to.  They are only little for a little while.
3. Make sure you have fire power when you get to World 2 level eight or the fire spitting turtle will kill you every time !