A+ Parenting Moment

First off, I want to say it feels good to be back writing on Vocal again. I have missed this and I feel a part of my spark returning. I hit a creative burnout this past year and been going through my own little life journey but I am proud to say that I am back and no longer Chloe Rose Violet, but Chloe Unfiltered.

No filters. No pretending. Just real experiences and honest stories from my life. I'm excited to see where this new chapter in my life leads me and I'm so happy to have you all along for the journey with me.

Anyways, back to the point of this piece.

I had an A+ parenting moment in my house this past month.

My oldest has ADHD too. And something we struggle with is screen-time during the summer. Don't get me wrong, I struggle with my screens too. But, I try to be very fair on the kids screentime rules around here. No devices until 9 am to give your brain a chance to wake up, as well as no playing past 5 pm is our typical rules. Of course I schedule breaks throughout the day too and plan activities and what-not, but I had a proud mama moment recently that I had to share.

It was just myself and my oldest child at home for about an hour on Canada Day while my fiancé and two younger children went out shopping. I should add that my oldest is 8-years old and our Nintendo Switch 2 has become one of his most prized possessions. Anyways, on with the story.

Now my oldest hates going to get groceries which is why I stayed behind with him while everyone else shopped. It was 12pm, and we had hit a designated screen-break. He begged for more time on Fortnite, but I struck him a deal.

I looked at him and said, "Okay buddy, you can have more game time, but only of you can beat the introduction level to Wind Waker on the Switch."

**A little backstory, for those of you that don't know me, but the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is one of my all-time favourite games for the GameCube and the number 1 reason why we have a Nintendo Switch 2.*

His eyes lit up, but then he quickly remembered how old that game was. "Mom, please. I'm begging you, just a little more time."

I shook my head and apologized, "I'm sorry buddy, but you only get extra time if you manage to beat the first level in Wind Waker."

He glared at me, but we loaded the GameCube app on the Switch 2 anyways.

I created him an save file.

I handed him back the Switch and said, "You know, technically this is extra time you get to play, but if you do this, I will let you play Fortnite a little longer."

So he starts playing the game. Everything seemed good. He tried picking the booger kid up. Threw pigs in the fence. Got the Hero's clothes. Went back up to see Aryll and get the telescope. Gets the sword. Climbs up to the bridge, falls off once and only once. Beats the monsters in the area. All in the span of thirty minutes.

Now, keep in mind, I was his age when I started playing that game. That opening scene used to take me almost two hours. I wouldn't even get close to beating his time at that age. I was shocked.

Then, a little spoiler unfortunately, but he gets to the part where Link's sister Aryll gets kidnapped by the giant bird, and I look at him and I say, "Buddy, you'd feel the same way if your little sister got kidnapped by a giant bird."

He looks at me, and seriously says, "I'd be so freaking happy."

He meant it too. He then chimes in with, "I wish she had long pointy ears like that girl does so that giant bird can come get her in real life."

I swear I laughed so hard that I cried.

That little firecracker has the best sense of humor and I do not understand where he gets it from. I'm not that funny, am I?

He played for a little while more before declaring that, "He's never going to play that game again," and "He only likes Breath of the Wild," and I just laughed and agreed with him playing Fortnite again.

I maybe can be a little unconventional with my parenting, but I took that moment as a mom win.

We could have went shopping with everyone else. But we stayed home and created a wonderful memory for the two of us to look back at later in life and laugh so hard until we cry again.

I'm pretty proud of that.

I hope you enjoyed this random story from my life.

Until next time,

Chloe Unfiltered