therussellhome
Puritan Board Freshman
As a parent of three I have, like you, had to take things away. In those times what I have repeatedly struggled with is knowing if the consequence should be temporary or permanent. Temporary because of the happiness they got from said thing. Permanent because they need to realize that consequences can have long term impacts on their life *1. Four weeks of good behavior may seem like an eternity for your son. And as parents we are called to shepherd their entire childhood not just the next four weeks. At the same time, we must remember that our kids are ultimately in God's hands, not ours. I don't know how much that helps just part of my journey.
My thought: if/when you do decide to rebuy the Xbox, involve him in setting rules for its issue. Bring your concerns and their foundations (Biblical or otherwise) but don't immediately give rules to solve them. Help him to come up with those rules. The incentive is that he doesn't get the Xbox till both of you have agreed on rules.
A second though: if you are able, dedicate the time to playing games on the Xbox with him. Use his desire for this thing to draw you together instead of apart. Just as we invite those we love to join us in what we enjoy, we seek to join those we love in what they enjoy even when it is not our natural inclination and even when it is inconvenient. Just because we love them. God joined us in our humanity and now invites us to worship Him despite our inclination and convince. And He is parenting with eternity in mind.
*1. Such as 40 years in the desert (Deut 1:26-46)
My thought: if/when you do decide to rebuy the Xbox, involve him in setting rules for its issue. Bring your concerns and their foundations (Biblical or otherwise) but don't immediately give rules to solve them. Help him to come up with those rules. The incentive is that he doesn't get the Xbox till both of you have agreed on rules.
A second though: if you are able, dedicate the time to playing games on the Xbox with him. Use his desire for this thing to draw you together instead of apart. Just as we invite those we love to join us in what we enjoy, we seek to join those we love in what they enjoy even when it is not our natural inclination and even when it is inconvenient. Just because we love them. God joined us in our humanity and now invites us to worship Him despite our inclination and convince. And He is parenting with eternity in mind.
*1. Such as 40 years in the desert (Deut 1:26-46)