Overheard

It's Christmas break.  The rules are relaxed.

But, my boys don't know that.

Both Seth and Sam received Nintendo DS Lites from Mom and Dad for Christmas.  They were originally Santa gifts, but after Sam overheard me telling my sister to be sure and remind me to pay her for the DS she purchased for me, one cat was out of the bag.  I fibbed (an entire post was missed due to my irregular posting habit about the art of lying at Christmas) and explained that, yes, Seth was going to get a DS.  Could he please keep it a secret?  He was sad that he wasn't getting one, but reassured that if I thought he was old enough after watching Seth play with his, perhaps he could get one for his birthday in January (does keeping the element of Christmas surprise negate the sin of lying?)

Needless to say, Sam was delighted, and for one short millisecond, confused, when he opened his own DS.  I hugged him and told him, "Merry Christmas" and hoped he didn't connect the dishonesty dots too quickly.  

Now, I purposely chose the DS lite because I did NOT want my nine and six year old to have internet access, nor did I want to pay more for a service I would only disable.  What I didn't realize, however, is that when DS lites are close enough to each other, a "chat" connection is possible.  The boys quickly discovered this and I watched amusedly as they sat side by side on the couch, "chatting."    I have no problem with it as long as they don't develop the obnoxious habit of text language.  I am seriously worried about the future of the English language after reading teenage text messages.

Tonight, I had my own moment of discovery while eavesdropping.   Seth, apparently unaware of how well sound carries from the basement to the living room, explained to Sam how, "if you put one headphone in, you can easily hear Mom or Dad coming down the hallway."  The plan is for the DSes to break out after lights out and to continue their conversation via DS chat.

My kids know me well enough to know that I don't have the personality to be o.k. with electronics in bed after lights out.  Secret under the covers book reading? I'd turn a blind eye.   Lego light saber fighting?  Um...no.  Unless it's Christmas break.

What adds to my amusement is the fact that Seth has been in his own room for less than two weeks.  With only a shared wall in between our bedrooms, I have spent the better part of the last four years listening to the two of them chat after goodnights have been said.  I have also listened to one or the other, but usually Sam, come out and complain about the other one keeping them away with an unrequited desire to chat.

I can't hear any noise coming from either bedroom.

I sit here, with a smile on my face.

Wondering if I should walk down the hall.