Video Game Obsession

We can't have video games because Chaz can't handle them.  Awhile back we had a Wii system and a Gamecube.  We even had an Xbox at one point.  Chaz would get so obsessed by it that he could hardly function.  He had no interest in eating, couldn't sleep because all he could think about was how his game day when and how it might go tomorrow, and he would pace the floor if we took away games for a few hours.  He didn't want to go anywhere, do anything.  It was so sad.  Finally, after talking to my pastor, we decided that it was best to take the games out of the house completely and make it for special occasions.  So now, we go to places that have games maybe twice a month.  Well, they make it a guy night and they have a blast. 

So yesterday I decided to give it another chance and let him play a cute little game online.  All the anxiety, all the pacing, all the behaviors came back in an instant.  When it was his brother's turn to play, Chaz would start crying.  Chaz is 9 1/2 years old but his age seems to regress around situations like this.  He was in tears and crying hard when he had to stop playing the game or wasn't getting a turn like he thought he should.  So, once again, we had to take the games away.  Not even on the computer.  If we play games at home it's board games together as a family like you see in the picture.  :)  Here we were playing Pictionary.  It's way more satisfying playing together and the kids love it!

Chaz Finds A Friend

I said before that it's hard for Chaz to really find a friend.  Well, he met one.  On my other blog, Meet Virginia, I posted about a skating party we went to.  Melanie, Dexter's mom, called me to tell me about the party.  We were talking about schooling and she just happens to tell me that Dexter is Aspergers.  "He's what?"  She said it again.  "You're kidding me!"  So Dexter and Chaz (Chaz is in the black shirt, blonde hair in pic) found each other.  I couldn't believe it.  I'm still amazed.  They go to a school once a week for homeschool.  We both homeschool them for the same reasons.  Too much trouble in school.  It's hard to find teachers who will work with them.  Not against them and always punishing them.  We met at the skating rink and I got to talk to Melanie some more. Awesome!  What are the chances our two boys became good friends at school and are both Aspergers?  Now they can annoy each other to death and they'll both love it.  LOL!  Chaz's brothers don't put up with it but Dexter does and vice versa.  I'm sure they'd both have fun poking at each other and thinking it's hilariously funny.  :D