Computer time. Fought over. Thought of as unfair by those who feel as though their time has been jipped. Excuses are found as to why someone else shouldn't have theirs and why that time should be up for grabs.

It drives me insane.

It drives me batty.

I often find myself wanting to lock myself in my room so I don't have to answer confusing questions. In fact I keep my mouth shut most of the time when this type of goings on occur, until I absolutely have to open it. I get a phrase or two together and repeat it over and over again. This usually gets them more angry and frustrated. Gets them crying. Gets them asking why even more. They get more desperate with each passing second. It's usually when I'm in the middle of something. Which gets me more frustrated. Which is why I now stick to my phrase or two and repeat it over and over again. Believe me, I won't get caught in that insane web again.

In the end it works. It doesn't get them to shut up as fast as I'd like them to, but at least while they're arguing with me, the person on the computer gets their peace and quiet. Kids need that too. That peace and quiet, just themselves and their concentration. It's good for us, it's good for them.

My wish is to have a small laptop for each of them. Of their very own. Each a different color. Enough to be able to do their general things on it. Nothing fancy. But alas, that is costly. For four, very costly.

So until then, I'm sticking with my phrases. And an alarm clock. I stick to my guns, the only ones I have. Maybe one day, they'll realize mom was fair, mom taught us how to share and take turns and how to have the patience to give other people time, mom taught us how to find our own thing to do while waiting.

Doubtful, but maybe.