Starcraft

The kids are hooked on Starcraft.  With Tyler this isn't a bit surprising.  He latches on to all video games.  But Lydia actually asks to play it more than Tyler asks.  It's been every night so far this week (after we do things like read books, math, piano, etc.).  The sad part is, one of them always ends up crying, even if they promise that they won't when we start.  At least they're taking turns.  Yesterday, Tyler had a chance to win when I was coaching him.  Today they had a nice battle back and forth, but Lydia had more persistence (at some point Tyler is more excited about producing exotic units and buildings rather than sticking with the strategy).

When Lydia gets upset she usually has a valid reason, like complaining that I'm helping Tyler.  Last night she said Larisa was no help at all at assisting her because she doesn't know Zerg.  When Tyler gets upset, it's not a grudge, it's genuine emotional breakdown.  He starts making vicious threats:  "Okay,... next time,... I'm going to attack all your bases."  Or he explains that he's send so many tanks, or something to that effect.

It was actually quite funny last week when Lydia was on a computer with no mouse, which made it practically impossible to keep up.  Tyler, completely on his own, had expanded all over the map.  He attacked Lydia one small wave after another, while she remained quite dormant just trying to stay afloat.  Then we had the idea that she should at least attack one of Tyler's vulnerable bases so she could have a little fun before she looses.  Boy was he upset when she attacked.  "Hey, I wasn't ready," as he tried to fight back tears.  "I wanted to have all of the bases."  "OK,... OK,... I'm going to kill all your guys," spoken as a threat the way you would tell someone that you won't be their friend ever again.  I don't even think he realized at the moment that he could easily follow through with the threat.  Boy was he satisfied.