When I was growing up, there was a family we were friends with who didn’t have television. Well, they did until their mom couldn’t get anyone to pay attention to her when she was trying to get them to do something. She ‘dropped’ the only one they had- TV, not kid. Several years and eight kids later, they were still without. All of their kids loved to read, were very intelligent and involved in many extracurricular activities. The only time not having TV at their house was really an issue is when any of the kids went somewhere where there was TV. It was like they were completely mesmerized and could not be distracted. As a teenager, I thought that was pretty weird.
Fast forward to motherhood and I find myself wanting to be that mom who limits TV time. (I didn’t say eliminate, just limit. I have to admit that television has saved my sanity more than once, so we will always have it in some form.) I try to limit my kids to two shows a day. Sometimes it’s more and some days we go without ever turning a TV on. However, my kids have turned into the mesmerized zombie TV watchers that I used to think were so strange. When the TV is on, it would take an earthquake AND a fire to distract them!
This morning, the boys and I were cuddled up reading some books and motorcycle magazines. (Yes, they read their motor sports magazines over and over like books.) I was really enjoying the quality time with the boys, but the clock was ticking closer towards the time to leave for gymnastics. With each tick my every other day shower was slipping away. Then my brilliant thought came, “Landon, how would you like to go upstairs and watch a show with Carter?” I started to get up sure he would fly off my lap and lunge toward the stairs, but he looked at me and said, “Actually, I just want to stay here and hang out with you.”
Seriously? How lucky am I to be so much cooler than TV? Well, it didn’t last for long, but I enjoyed it while it did! I did end up having time for a shower after a few more books. As we scrambled to make it to gymnastics, Landon told me with tears in his eyes that I was ‘boring.’ That is his way of saying totally lame. I went from cooler than TV to totally lame within an hour. I have chosen to focus on the ‘cooler’ description.
7 comments:
Haha. I wish I was cooler than TV! I used to be so good about limiting TV time. The rule was PBS only (or an educational movie) was all that was allowed after we ate breakfast and were all dressed. Then, it had to be off by noon and no TV the rest of the day.
Once I was pregnant and puking this time around all that went out the window and I haven't quite gotten it back. But hey, TV and movies were a great FREE babysitter while I slept next to the toilet for a couple months. Haha. Thank you nanny, I mean TV. :o)
jeff and i don't have tv and though we do watch our fair share of movies i like it tons. we miss alot of current events and pop culture stuff but aside from that i really like it. we eat dinner at the table together every night and talk-i wouldn't trade it for the world.
That's what mother's do (and seminary teachers-tho it is much more rare there) grab on to those precious moments, savor them, and pull them out again and again as needed!! You are awesome!
Of course you are much cooler than TV. I'm glad he figured it out early.
I've had times like that as well. When I offer Tv but Bella would rather stay in her room and play princesses. Good times.
I made the apple brown betty tonight. YUM. It was so fun to see you guys!
OUCH! The things they say hurt, huh?! Ava's been telling me how her new primary teacher is more beautiful then me. OUCH!
I'm with you on not eliminating it, but I would like to limit it more too. Jordan used to always ask for it, but lately he's doesn't like turning the tv on, so I'm glad for the change, though now he gets into more stuff that he shouldn't.
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