Challenge: Giving Up the Family Computer

theGadgetMom is not popular at the homestead these days.  I made the decision, dragging my husband along, that we would get rid of the iMac sitting prominently in our living room.  The iMac is a fantastic computer - especially for kids.  It houses our iTunes library, plays movies, YouTube videos, does Facebook for the older kids, assists in homework, and is used for making movies in PhotoBooth.  I can't overestimate the amount my kids love this computer.  


I, however, hate the computer, which should also not be underestimated. I hate that the kids constantly beg me for time on the computer - even on warm, sunny days.  I hate that the kids fight with each other for time on the computer.  I hate that even the baby parks herself in front of it and begs for "Caillou". I hate that nearly every waking hour, SOMEONE is on that infernal computer.  I hate that the kids would rather play computer than games with each other.  They'd rather do Facebook than interact with their parents or siblings... for HOURS a day. 


The 5 Stages of Grief and Loss:
Stage 1 - Denial
13yr girl: "theGadgetMom won't get rid of the iMac.  The computer is too nice. theGadgetMom never gets rid of tech unless she's getting something better."


Stage 2 - Anger

20-month girl: "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo mommy ommy ommy."


Stage 3 - Bargaining
6yr boy: "Mom, instead of selling the iMac, you can sell my iPod Touch, my Bionicles, and my bed, ok?"


Stage 4 - Depression
6 kids mulling around on a rainy weekend, having lost any skills at building forts, playing Legos, even Monopoly.  Pondering exactly what kids can do without access to a computer.


Stage 5 - Acceptance


OK, I may have exaggerated in this picture.  It may or may not have been taken while we still had the computer (sitting prominently in the background - see why I hate it?).  Life isn't unicorns and rainbows now that the computer is gone. The kids still fight with each other.  They now beg me to do things to earn 20 minutes on the computer.  And we didn't get rid of computers completely in our house.  We now use a small laptop for schoolwork, Facebook, and even gaming - but it's not nearly as fun as using the iMac thus lessening the number of times I get asked for computer time.  The kids have rediscovered playing outside out of sheer boredom inside - I expect this makes my experiment successful.


So how about you, what would it take for you to reduce the prominence of computers in your family's life?