It's two days after Christmas and already some items are no longer functional because their batteries have been used up.  So, my Beloved and I are thinking of a battery allowance.  My question to you, my readers, is what is reasonable?  Now understand that the kids got lots of non-electronic toys such as legos and snap circuits and Sweet Streets (thank you Hinterlands and Lil Bit) and some got more electronic items than others.  I also realize that once we are back on our regular schedule of school and activities, there will be less usage but I'm wondering what is a good start.  The two oldest boys each got a remote control car and a digital camera (none of this is from us, btw).  These items together require 6 AA batteries.  They are all expended.   The DP got a digital camera (again, not from us, just a very generous relative).  Her doll that she got instead of a remote control car requires no batteries.   But the camera batteries are used up. 

Oh, and we just took all the cameras out of their packaging after lunch yesterday.  There was a lot of picture taking going on over here.  And a lot of deleting because they don't have expanded memory cards, yet.  Oh, and some video.  Did I mention that their cameras are nicer than ours?  Maybe one of them should have the privilege of using our "grown-up" digital camera while we suffer with using theirs.   But, I digress. 

FM#3 got no camera  but a Spiderman costume which requires no batteries but if it did, he could recharge it with his energy alone.  He did get a remote control car (4 AA batteries required) and its batteries are used up but mainly because someone else's batteries were used up, so that person thought using FM#3's car was a good idea.  A bit unfair but to be honest, I know FM#3 had been using the other car a bit.  I just didn't time it all to see if the time was equivalent.  How does one keep it all fair?  Oh, that's right, life isn't fair.  My brother told me that my entire life growing up.  I just didn't pay attention.  

FM#3 also got a remote control bulldozer which is still functional.  The annoying part about that is that the controller also plays music.  It's not really music I would choose to play because it is LOUD and there is no volume control.  I so wish it's batteries were used up.  Sadly, I picked this item out at a toy store for a relative to give to him.  I have nobody to blame for my misery but myself which is just so . . . unfair.

So what is a fair monthly allotment of batteries (please, forget for a moment that life isn't fair)?