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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is unreasonable, me or my teen?

100 replies

RannisLord · 01/07/2022 20:36

In our house we have one TV and one PS5. The PS5 is connected to the TV, so we can’t watch the big TV and play on the PS5 simultaneously (can watch Netflix/Disney+ on tablet/phone). Therefore, we take turns. Everyone is usually pretty good and chilled about sharing. Everyone except DS2.

DS2 gets home first and is normally home about 3 hours before the rest of us. That’s 3 hours he can spend watching TV or playing PS5 without anyone interrupting him. Sometimes he plays PS5 but sometimes he watches TV, and sometimes he does neither. However, on the days he doesn’t play PS5 he then expects to get a turn later in the evening.

I think this is unreasonable as he can use the TV/PS5 for those 3 hours he is home before us and he can choose either TV or PS5. He thinks this is very unfair as it means DS1 and DS3 get a turn on the PS5 and he doesn’t. He thinks he should be able to choose to have his turn later in the evening if he wishes.

Whilst I understand his point of view there simply isn’t enough time for all three DC to have a turn after we all get home on a school night. AIBU?

OP posts:
RewildingAmbridge · 01/07/2022 21:01

Why can't they play together? Either multiplayer or as my brother and I had to do with our sega mega drive take turns (a level or a life) .....

EmeraldShamrock1 · 01/07/2022 21:01

I couldn't cope with the drama of one TV.

user375242 · 01/07/2022 21:01

I have a 15 year old, 9 year old and 4 year old. The 15 year old has an iPad, mobile phone and Switch. The middle has a tablet. The younger two take it in turns to watch TV after school, but it is mostly the youngest who takes over the TV. The teenager only gets the TV for games consoles very rarely, like when the rear of us are out on weekends. If they go on it while we're putting the others to bed, they always give it up with no protest when we come down and inevitably want to watch it. It isn't always about equal TV time imo, but who has the greatest need because they don't have an alternative bedroom on their own and other devices. My teenager doesn't get 3 hours of TV time, and still doesn't ask for it in the evenings. But if they did want to game with friends at that time, I'd get them their own TV I think.

Original poster
RannisLord · 01/07/2022 21:03

Where do you all put a second TV? We only have one long living room/dining room with the TV one end and a couple of PC’s the other end. We also have two iPads. That’s a lot of screens I thought.

OP posts:
GreatCrash · 01/07/2022 21:07

This is a bit tricky. At first it seems obvious that you are right, but on the other hand I can imagine him watching his brothers play and wanting a turn. It's more fun playing with others than when he's on his own.

Bunce1 · 01/07/2022 21:10

How old are the children?

Original poster
RannisLord · 01/07/2022 21:15

I think you are right @GreatCrash in that it’s more fun with his brothers there.

They are 14, 13, and 9

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 01/07/2022 21:18

We have something similar. One TV with an Xbox connected. DS knows that he needs to use his time when he gets in from school as his sisters don't game and want to watch TV later. It's easier at the weekends as they all have activities at different times and he has a 2 hour limit per day anyway

Hillary17 · 01/07/2022 21:20

Second smaller TV in a bedroom for standard watching maybe?

itsgettingweird · 01/07/2022 21:27

Why don't they all play a game together? Do PS5 not have more than 2 player games?

I'd go with the rule that if he doesn't play in those 3 hours he can play later but he plays what ever games his brothers have chosen.

CallOnMe · 01/07/2022 21:30

He’s lucky he gets to have it for 3 hours uninterrupted!

My DD is a gamer and she has her own TV in her room. It was only a cheap second hand one but honestly it’s a game changer!

tootiredtoocare · 01/07/2022 21:32

You can get little TVs fairly cheaply - make it an early part of their xmas gifts maybe, to share between them? Then you can set a firm rota on who gets to play when.

parietal · 01/07/2022 21:32

make a timetable where each child gets 30 mins per night. that is plenty on a school night. Let them negotiate which order they go in on different days of the week. And stick to it.

if DD2 is home early and it is not his screen time on the timetable, he will have to read a book or bake some cookies until later. He could even bribe his brothers with cookies for more time ?!

GettingItOutThere · 01/07/2022 21:44

oyu are both being slightly unreasonable

get another tv - problem solved

tv after tea is family time, so agreed watching not for games!

Invisibella · 01/07/2022 22:00

parietal · 01/07/2022 21:32

make a timetable where each child gets 30 mins per night. that is plenty on a school night. Let them negotiate which order they go in on different days of the week. And stick to it.

if DD2 is home early and it is not his screen time on the timetable, he will have to read a book or bake some cookies until later. He could even bribe his brothers with cookies for more time ?!

30 min is not plenty to play a game.

Glittertwins · 01/07/2022 22:02

Can a PS5 plug into a normal PC monitor? We have Xboxes that do and this saves a lot of hassle.

Invisibella · 01/07/2022 22:02

RannisLord · 01/07/2022 21:03

Where do you all put a second TV? We only have one long living room/dining room with the TV one end and a couple of PC’s the other end. We also have two iPads. That’s a lot of screens I thought.

In their rooms.

KissThaRain · 01/07/2022 22:10

My teen had tv and console on their room but I had password if they ever wanted to change the settings. They never asked. I checked at random times the history. that worked ok but the mobile Jesus that was a different story when that child figured out how to get pics of naked women by using their data rather than Wi-Fi!

I caught them on the website as I’d gone in to say good night and the excuse was OH I’m charging the phone up - guilt written all over their face. They never could lie! That ended in a very long lecture about respect, morals, choice etc
I have another soon to be teen and I will be checking even more

coffeecupsandfairylights · 01/07/2022 22:15

The teens can have TV's in their rooms.

Autienotnaughtie · 01/07/2022 22:24

MacaroniBaloney · 01/07/2022 20:43

3DC and multiple streaming services for one tv?

For your own sanity get another tv. Or two.

Because we all have the same 24 hours.....🙄

IDreamOfTheMoors · 01/07/2022 22:26

RannisLord · 01/07/2022 21:00

Exactly @MammaWeasel He has more time than anyone else in the family!

Take the PS5 away for a week or so.

Allow him to appreciate those precious three after-school hours, and explain what first-world problems are. Then lol tell him you had to hike uphill in the snow to school in the “olden days.”

WhereIsVillanelleWhenNeeded · 01/07/2022 22:32

Your tv, your electricity, your WiFi, your rules.

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 01/07/2022 22:50

You can connect a PS5 to a computer monitor as long as the monitor has a HDMI port. The screen refresh rate might be an issue, bu if one of your computer monitors has a HDMI port it would be worth checking out if this would work for you. Alternatively as long as the gamer was using headphones the PS5 TV wouldn't have to be far away from the TV only TV.

Pansypotts · 01/07/2022 23:13

You obviously don’t have teenager boys 🙄

Pansypotts · 01/07/2022 23:17

Pansypotts · 01/07/2022 23:13

You obviously don’t have teenager boys 🙄

Sorry posted without attached what I was commenting on but some people suggesting things like taking game console away, obviously do not have teenager sons.

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