Xbox Live Brings Families Together

Up until recently, I paid for an Xbox Live Gold Membership because we have Netflix and we use the Xbox 360 to stream movies to our television. In fact, I actually bought the Xbox 360 just because I needed something to be able to stream Netflix to my television and I decided that if I was going to have to spend the money, I may as well get something my son can play as well rather than the box that Netflix offers and that is only useful with the Netflix program.

The other night I enjoyed a benefit from Xbox Live Gold that I hadn't planned on.

In my home, my son is an only child. His father has another son that Hunter gets to see when he goes to visit his dad. This means that my son actually sees his brother about 26 times a year, if his brother isn't busy and actually goes to his dad's. Being the little brother in the situation, Hunter totally adores Daniel.

As my son was playing an Xbox 360 video game on his Xbox Live Gold account, his brother's screen name popped up to show that he was online. Hunter tried to join the Xbox Live game his brother was in. As he joined, other kids made comments wondering who Hunter was and wanting him to be removed from the game.

Hunter was using the Xbox Kinect for the sound features, so it was hard to hear the game and the boys talking, but he heard those comments. He was waiting to hear something from his brother and he was wondering why the boys were being so mean to him. Eventually, he gave up and sent his brother a text saying that he loved him. Hunter then moved on to a different group and was playing another Xbox Live game.

Then it happened. Hunter's brother's voice was loud and clear as he demanded to know who had a problem with Hunter. He suggested that if someone in the group had a problem with his little brother, they move to a different group.

My son's face lit up. I felt a surge of relief for my son and pride in his older brother.

I very rarely get to see my son interact with his brother because his brother is never here. Sometimes I worry about whether or not Daniel is nice to Hunter. I wonder this because I remember being a younger sibling and how my sister was with me.

Not only were my fears put to rest, but I experienced a new appreciation for the Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live Gold experience. I know that when these 2 boys get together, they enjoy playing Xbox 360 video games. I never thought about how the Xbox Live Gold account would give them a new avenue to play and talk together.

Everyone is so busy these days. Broken homes often mean that siblings hardly get to know each other. They need every opportunity they can get to learn about each other and form bonds. The Xbox 360 Live Gold Account gives them something they didn't have before-real time access to each other doing something they love.

I bought Hunter the Xbox 360 headphones and typing pad, so I don't get to hear their chats anymore. Two brothers deserve a bit of privacy, I know. But, I'm going to miss hearing them chat together.

Hunter is from a broken home. His father and I simply didn't work out. But, amazingly enough, all of the people involved in Hunter's life get along pretty well. In fact, Daniel's mother even added Hunter as a "friend" on her Xbox Live Gold account.

Who would have thought that an Xbox Live Gold account would do so much for one family?