Why I Stopped Nagging My Husband's Video Game Obsession

I will admit the first time my husband sat in front of the television for two hours playing his newest purchase of Madden '08 I was a bit upset. After all, he could have been spending that time with me. I let it pass the first few times he played and busied myself with household chores or writing here on Associated Content.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago he pushed the wrong buttons and went to far with his new obsession. I had gone to bed on a Saturday night with a head ache around midnight and my darling husband said he would be there in a few. He was of course finishing up a game. Once I hit the sheets I was out, completely oblivious to anything and everything around me. Well, that is until I woke up around 4:30 AM and my husband wasn't in bed. I had a minor panic attack and raced into the living room where he was starring wide-eyed at the television screen.

He turned around and exclaimed, "Baby, I'm winning!" I couldn't help but crack a smile, but then I snapped back into nagging-wife mode and asked if he was going to be able to wake up for church in the morning. He said of course, so I went back to bed and he followed about ten minutes after me. I know you'd never guess it, but we didn't go to church the next day.

Later that week when he pulled his computer chair in front of our new flat screen television and rubbed his hands together before grabbing the remote I decided to speak my mind. I told him I was tired of his obsession and told him it wasn't fair because he was hogging the only television we had. However, what I really meant was that I missed him and wanted him to choose me over Madden.

He responded by rolling his eyes and it wasn't until just a few days ago that he explained why he had developed such a passion for this video game. He told me he had been stressed out over his job and it was an escape for him. I would have never guessed that Madden was his way of releasing his stress. I am a woman after all, and I deal with stress by talking or eating!

I am so glad that he allowed himself to be vulnerable and open up to me. Now I understand his needs and I am more than happy to see him play for an hour once he gets home from work and I prepare dinner. He also respects my needs of attention and turns the game off to spend a little one-on-one time with me.

I find myself rooting for him at times as he is winning a game. I'd like to think my cheerleader attitude boosts his ego and relieves his stress a little faster.

Communicating our true feelings and reasoning behind our actions has greatly increased the happiness in our home.