Inevitably, as a parent, you will have some sort of conflict with your children.  The parental advise that is frequently spouted is ‘Pick your battles’.  I attempt to pick my battles.  Select the things that I truly find important to stand firm on.  One of my long-term, constantly evolving, happens daily battle is limiting electronic media.  I do not want to watch my children grow into adults with them staring at a screen or some sort of hand held device.  I like seeing their faces, their eyes focused on my face when we are conversing.  It is a more interesting view than the tops of their heads.  I will admit allowing them unlimited television, computer, iPod would be much easier. Unbelievably so much easier.  The other easy option would be to get rid of all aforementioned electronic media.  That would probably lead to a household coup and I would lose my position as benevolent supreme dictator in all things, a position I am quite fond of.  So the battle wages on.  I express my concerns, set perimeters, hear complaints, attempt to show I am hearing what they are saying but remaining firm on my stance on limitations, expect adherence to perimeters, but… ‘Can I have my iPod?  It is MY iPod, you know.  I am just using it to read, listen to music, using the white noise generator to block out my siblings… of course I am doing my math…’   I am a trusting sort, but when there are huge jumps in our Internet usage, well that is when my trust slides into gullibility.  I emerge from being duped spitting mad and in battle-mom form.  Rules are reiterated, stance re-established, the battle continues.  The long term goal is happy, balanced adults.  In the short-term, keeping my eye on the long-term so that I won’t put anything in action that will get me deposed…