Video games.....love them or hate them, they are a reality to any parent with children regardless of their ages. My sons enjoy playing them, especially Dalton. I definitely have policies regarding the games on the DS and on the WII. Neither of my boys are permitted to play during the school week and this has always been our family rule. They are used to it now, even though they haven't embraced the rule wholeheartedly.
I encountered a situation this past weekend that not only angered me, but truly made me sad. Dalton was invited to a birthday party where a large bus that was converted into a mobile video game fantasy land was going to be the main attraction. The concept is brilliant. A bus with 15 or more flat screen tv's and comfortable chairs for the children to sit and play video games for two hours. The games are networked so that the children can play against each other. What child in our world today would not love this???
As we approached the bus on Saturday, Dalton's excitement was undeniable. He was chomping at the bit to open the door and just glance at what was inside. We walked up the steps and knocked to gain our entry. The door was pushed open and we entered into another world. Every child was seated in front of their own screen intently playing a video game. Dark curtains covered the windows to make the scene resemble one in a movie theatre.
I glanced at the screen and saw lifelike figures being shot and killed. My motherly instinct immediately became activated and I inquired as to what game was being played. The answer was Halo. Halo? I thought to myself. Isn't that one of the most violent games that has been made and it is rated M for Mature or in other words basically like an R rated movie? Aren't all of these children 9 and 10??? After answering my own questions in my mind with a definitive YES, I turned to the owner and began to speak but before I could, he was telling me about how this version that is networked is not really that bad. My response was, " I hear what you are saying, but my child is only permitted to play E games." (which are rated acceptable for everyone) The next tactic used on me was that if my son couldn't play Halo then no one could play because they were all networked. My response; " I am sorry to be the bad guy, but he cannot play and M games for my son are unacceptable." A huge blessing after this comment was that another mother had her instincts on high alert and said the same went for her son too!! The game was stopped and an acceptable replacement was put in. After kissing my son goodbye, (who by the way was NOT happy with me....oh well!!) I left with confidence knowing that I did the right thing, but so upset that I even had to encounter a situation like this when my son is only 9.
Why is it that our world wants our children to grow up so fast? Why is it necessary for our children to be bombarded with images that are NOT appropriate for them? Why don't more people stand up against this type of situation instead of giving in to the pressure of the world??
My son is 9 years old. He does not need to hear cussing in movies or sexual innuendos, he does not need to see violence being truthfully portrayed on a video game or on television. He is too young for all of this. God made his mind innocent and that is why movies and video games are rated. Our world is so broken and sin surrounds us everywhere that we go. I do not want to cloud or dirty his mind with things that are not necessary. He hears enough from the news and from friends at school and on the bus. Our children grow up way too fast as it is. I want him to enjoy his pureness of mind and his innocence of childhood as long as he can. Don't misunderstand me, I do not want him to be clueless to the world or naive, BUT, there is a proper time and place for everything. M rated video games are not proper or appropriate for his precious and moldable heart and mind.
As a parent, I know that I am in the minority. That is okay. My job as a parent and as a representative of God to my children is to protect them and keep them from harm, whether it be physical, mental or emotional. I know that I did my piece this past weekend to protect my son. I love him with all of my being and his time as a child will pass by way too fast. He has many adult years to make his own choices about what he will watch and how he lives his life. My prayer is that molding him now with the morals from God will be planted deep in his heart and that he will not turn from them when he is older.
I know that I just need to hold fast to my beliefs whether they are "old fashioned" or not. The God of the universe did not say that this life would be easy, in fact he says that we will suffer and encounter many hardships. This situation for me is just the beginning. BUT, knowing that I have a God that will never fail in what he instructs me to do as a parent is enough comfort to see me through my childrens' most difficult years.
Philippians 4:8
Finally brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
