One step ahead

Remember when Joel got this xbox coupon in his stocking last year?  He has faithfully held onto it all year.  I kept asking him when he wanted to use it. And honestly thought he had forgotten about it. He was just saving it all this time.

 Well, on the way to Jeffs for our black-eyed peas he got in trouble.  And got the xbox taken away from him.  On Sunday morning as soon as I woke up, he was waiting in the kitchen with a big smile on his face.  He quietly handed me the coupon and sweetly said since we had church could he add the time we were in church to Monday.  I wasn't awake yet to read the back of the coupon, so I agreed before reading that it was nontransferable over days.  

He ended up playing xbox the entire day.  Didn't have to help clean up the house from Christmas or take down any of Christmas.  I had done 5 loads of laundry and he couldn't help because "coupon mom"

Colin wasn't thrilled that he couldn't get on the xbox his last day of vacation. He was also amazed that Joel played the entire day.  At 9:30 when we made him get off because he had school the next day. He came and got me and asked to go outside for a walk because, "sitting all day doesn't make me feel good mom." He actually admitted that he got bored playing the xbox but stayed playing because of the principal of it all.  

I'm not sure Santa will be bringing more of those coupons but I had to laugh that Joel really used it on the best day. Well played Joel.  Well played. 

He wrote me a note on Tuesday. His first day with no Xbox

Day 1 of  no Xbox

Gamer fuel supply: low

Morale: 13% and falling 

Chance of depression: 29% and rising 

Positive thoughts: falling

“Soon my own mother will become my enemy. I’ll log in tomorrow, Joel signing out.”

He hasn’t logged in since. So I don’t know where his percentages are at currently.