You sound like I imagine my son in 10 years ... The reason I occasionally let him stay with friends for the junk food/games/TV binge with friends is so that he

You sound like I imagine my son in 10 years ... The reason I occasionally let him stay with friends for the junk food/games/TV binge with friends is so that he learns all types of experiences. I don't believe in banning anything, just regulating. How else can we understand our world if we don't experience it for ourselves? If I were to host the junk food/TV/games binges, I'd have to buy the console and games and stock the junk food ... Things that I just don't want to do .. So it's easier to let someone else do it. In return, I take others kids on bush walks, to BBQs, roller skating, etc - so their kids get to do something different too. There may be some "it doesn't happen in my house" as you suggest, but it's not my primary or secondary motivator.