Ethan's mother stood in the doorway with her arms crossed.
She said, “Ethan, you have been on your computer for four hours.”
Ethan looked away from his video game and sighed.
He replied, “Mom, I am playing with my friends from school.”
He added, “It is the weekend, so I should have some free time.”
His mother walked into the room and sat on his bed.
She answered, “I understand that you want to relax and talk to friends.”
She continued, “However, staring at a screen all day is bad for your health.”
Ethan argued, “But I already finished all my homework this morning.”
He explained, “This is the only way we can hang out right now.”
His mother nodded slowly, thinking about his point.
She suggested, “We need to find a balance that works for both of us.”
She said, “How about you take a thirty-minute break every two hours?”
Ethan thought about the idea for a moment.
He asked, “Can I still play in the evening if I take those breaks?”
His mother smiled and agreed to his condition.
She replied, “Yes, as long as you turn everything off an hour before bed.”
Ethan said, “That sounds fair, so I will set a timer right now.”
They both felt happy that they could solve the problem without yelling.