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The day has finally come.

For years, my son, The Boy, has had a computer and video games at his disposal. I've never had to put limits on how many hours he spends playing video games. He has always preferred to play outside - which obviously I've taken as a source of pride.

Well, now with this Rock Band phenomenon, that has all changed. I wrote a few weeks ago about how we played over Thanksgiving with a friend's game. I also wrote I couldn't find it for Christmas, and that I couldn't sing and The Girl just wanted to dance.

I've got some updates to that story. I happened to find the game in a store just before Christmas, and decided that even though the kids had enough presents, this would be worth it for the whole family. And it is: I've discovered that I'm the best singer in the house, I can play bass okay and guitar and drums on the easy setting, and The Girl - who can't even read! - memorizes songs so she can sing in her little baby four-year-old voice. SO CUTE!!!

On the weekends, we've been having friends come over...and we have been playing Rock Band almost exclusively. That's too bad, because we have tons of other great games...but right now, nothing is more fun than Rock Band! My son is playing all the instruments on the "hard" or "expert" settings, and was even allowed to attend an adult Rock Band party last weekend. (He's socially mature enough to know he can't play every time when people are waiting for a turn - and he's a benefit to almost any band with his serious skills!)

On the one hand, it's a ton of fun for me, too - for all of us, really. We're all hanging out in the same room, cheering each other on, taking turns with the various instruments and singing, and so on.

But on the other hand, I haven't seen my kid do anything else when we're at home for the last few weeks. Sure, he'll do his homework and eat meals with the family, but immediately after he says, "Mom, can we play Rock Band? Let's do "Wanted Dead or Alive" on Expert!"

And most of the time, I get suckered in. The good thing is, how long is a rock song, anyway? I can say "One song only" or some other reasonable number, and set the boundaries for how much time we play.

And it is cold outside. And dark early. But I really don't want to make Rock Band our week night habit when the weather gets nicer and the days get longer.

Wow. I never thought anything could turn me into a gamer! I just have to remember I have to be the parent, too - not just another member of the band.