Making it difficult

I like to sleep in. With six kids under age eight, it is a privilege rarely afforded me. However, I have noticed that since we hooked up the Wii, the children will pitter-patter downstairs without ever poking their heads in my room first thing in the morning. When the baby finally cries out for her early-morning nursing, the kids have already helped themselves to an hour or so of the Wii.

So we're locking it away.

I can't help myself. It's just too easy to let them enjoy video games while I sleep. I know it's not good for them. They know it's against the rules. But it's just too easy.

Now, whenever they want to play, they will have to come get me to unlock the closet and set it up for them. Life won't be as easy for me, but it will be better for my kids.

We also, at some point, unintentionally lost the remote control to our satellite and also to our television. (By lost, I mean one of our kids thought it would be funny to hide it in the trash can, and now it's gone forever.) It turned out to be a good thing. We can still operate the t.v., but it's so difficult that the children often come to me for help, at which time I can dictate what they watch and how long they watch--or if they watch at all.

My kids are young--too young, really, to deal with the temptations and choices that can change a person's life forever. But in the grown-up world--in our world--temptations are too easy. Pornography comes right to your computer, in the privacy of your home office. Flirting is acceptable, and "innocent" business lunches no longer frowned upon. Living with your boyfriend is expected, and babies before marriage are "in." Anger, lies, cheating, carousing--if it's too easy, we may just fall into it.

Make temptation difficult. Lock away the Wii, lose the remote controls. Cough up $99/year for a good Internet filter. Let your friends know you don't have lunch alone with someone of the opposite sex out of respect for your marriage. (Be sure that they will talk if you do!!) Refuse to hang out with people who engage in the kind of behavior you're hoping to avoid.

It won't be convenient, but it will be good for you.

Now I've got to go resolve some dispute I hear brewing around the t.v.