When it comes to my kids and video games, I'm pretty strict. We have a Playstation 2 that they are allowed to play for an hour each on Saturday and an hour each on Sunday. On occasion, if they are on a school holiday, I might let them play it then as well.

I've always been against allowing them to have hand held video games. No Gameboys or what have you. I've seen too many kids who have them glued to their hands 24/7, and too many kids who don't get enough excercise because of it and are unhealthy and overweight.

I've told my ex-husband all of this. Last year he wanted to get them a Gameboy for Christmas. His girlfriend's son has one apparently. I said no, as I always have. So they didn't get one.

So this year, he decides to buy them each a Nintendo DS Lite for Christmas without telling me until he's bought them and had them shipped. He acted like it made it ok since I would "have complete control over them.".

He's such an asshole. He knew if he asked if they could have one I would say no, so he did it anyway. He's not going to have to deal with the hassle over the damn things.

And since he's in Iraq, there's very little I can do about it. I can't ship them back and I can't ship them to him. All he wants to do is either throw money at the kids or buy them expensive toys in lieu of being an Actual Parent. And he wants the satisfaction of the kids knowing that 'Daddy bought them something they wanted that Mommy wouldn't let them have.".

What an irresponsible bastard.