trouble

We've discovered that too much Wii equates to a severe listening impairment/personality change for Dylan. So we've been limiting his Wii time and trying to use it as something he can earn by doing the right thing without being asked. But Sunday night, he had a meltdown over something silly (ice cream flavor) and it came directly after playing way too many hours of Wii all weekend. So we hid the controllers and games, and he's had all week to earn them back. He's having a playdate today, and I had planned on letting the boys play Wii since he's been trying really hard since Sunday to listen.


However, today he came home with this from his teacher:

Too much talking at school, when he should have been doing his work, and letting his friends do their work. So, no Wii today again. He'll have to earn it back again.

This is his third school time-out ever. And everytime, he's gotten off the bus and told me immediately, turning on the sad eyes. I'm glad he's up front about it, instead of me just finding the note in his backpack later with no warning. And granted, there are worse things he could get in trouble doing at school than talking. But he has to listen and follow the rules, and know there are consequences if he doesn't.

So the Wii will wait at least another day. Its hard to punish him, and I hate it. But its the very necessary not-so-fun part of parenting.