I was reading an online advice column and this question spoke to me:
I bought my husband that new Xbox 360 for Christmas. He said it was the only thing he wanted. Well since then, he spends every waking moment on the thing. I believe he has become mesmerized by the graphics. The past weeks have been quite lonely for me. Will he grow out of this phase? Do I need to take it away or return it? Should I accidentally break it? Keep in mind this is a 36-year-old man.
Signed, Lonely
The advice columnist copped out and didnt really answer the question so Ive decided to toss in my two cents and since I dont like wasting such sage wisdom I figure that Id just post it here:
1. No, hes not going grow out of this phase and frankly, I think you knew that going in. He was obviously a gamer before this and either hid it from you or you simply chose to ignore it. This is mostly your fault anyway because no wife would spend $400 on a gift for her husband that doesnt have the initials B & B in it unless she was looking for something to keep him occupied. It just worked a little better than you had hoped.
2. What are you his mommy? Have you emasculated him so much that you could smack his hand and ground him from playing on it anyway. Frankly, you sound a bit childish yourself in that youd actually consider destroying something that set you back more than $400 bucks just to get a little more attention from him. Thats not the type of attention you want, is it? An adult would probably use this time to take up a hobby of her own and become a well-rounded independent woman but if being self-sufficient isnt your thing, you could always try joining your husband in the fun and try using the video game system yourself. Who knows, maybe youll get just as addicted as your game crazy spouse.
3. Now, if you want to get him a little less fixated on game pixels and more fixated on on you pixels, then appeal to his grown up side. You have an advantage over that hunk of metal in that Microsoft and Sony will never be able to make a machine that can compete with the fun you two are capable of having. It sounds like he needs a subtle reminder of that so the next time he plops down in front of the 360, slink up next to him in that outfit you were saving for Valentines night, let your hands wander into his pants and whisper in his ear that you might be tempted to play with his joystick. If he doesnt at least pause the game then and there check his pulse.
I bought my husband that new Xbox 360 for Christmas. He said it was the only thing he wanted. Well since then, he spends every waking moment on the thing. I believe he has become mesmerized by the graphics. The past weeks have been quite lonely for me. Will he grow out of this phase? Do I need to take it away or return it? Should I accidentally break it? Keep in mind this is a 36-year-old man.
Signed, Lonely
The advice columnist copped out and didnt really answer the question so Ive decided to toss in my two cents and since I dont like wasting such sage wisdom I figure that Id just post it here:
1. No, hes not going grow out of this phase and frankly, I think you knew that going in. He was obviously a gamer before this and either hid it from you or you simply chose to ignore it. This is mostly your fault anyway because no wife would spend $400 on a gift for her husband that doesnt have the initials B & B in it unless she was looking for something to keep him occupied. It just worked a little better than you had hoped.
2. What are you his mommy? Have you emasculated him so much that you could smack his hand and ground him from playing on it anyway. Frankly, you sound a bit childish yourself in that youd actually consider destroying something that set you back more than $400 bucks just to get a little more attention from him. Thats not the type of attention you want, is it? An adult would probably use this time to take up a hobby of her own and become a well-rounded independent woman but if being self-sufficient isnt your thing, you could always try joining your husband in the fun and try using the video game system yourself. Who knows, maybe youll get just as addicted as your game crazy spouse.
3. Now, if you want to get him a little less fixated on game pixels and more fixated on on you pixels, then appeal to his grown up side. You have an advantage over that hunk of metal in that Microsoft and Sony will never be able to make a machine that can compete with the fun you two are capable of having. It sounds like he needs a subtle reminder of that so the next time he plops down in front of the 360, slink up next to him in that outfit you were saving for Valentines night, let your hands wander into his pants and whisper in his ear that you might be tempted to play with his joystick. If he doesnt at least pause the game then and there check his pulse.
d0bermann:
