Jun. 21, 2008 - My Dream Come True!
It's gone! It's gone! It's really gone! I'm so happy!
So are you wondering what makes a mom of seven giddy with excitement? We chucked the TV! Someone came and picked it up tonight, so it's really, really gone!
My husband and I have been talking about this for a while now, and today I cleaned out the entertainment center (it goes tomorrow), put the tv outside to be picked up, and rearranged our living room. I love it! Now the furniture is arranged to promote conversation or quiet reading instead of making sure everyone can see a silly screen that makes their brains turn off.
Why did we do this? First, it's because I realize that I parent very lazily when I have a tv to babysit for me instead of engaging my children in profitable activity. Second, I have not cultivated an attention span in my younger children. They tolerate only short bursts of anything and it's very frustrating sometimes. Third, my children are not nice to each other when the tv is on. The only conversations they have consist of, "I don't want to watch that!", "Be quiet! I can't hear!", and "I can't SEE!" Where's the family harmony in that? Lastly, we have a 5-year-old son with a serious addiction. He will sneak to watch tv, and would rather do that than eat. It has become quite ridiculous.
So now, it's summer and the weather has been beautiful the last few days. We have our pool up and running, and they have no excuse to stay inside. We've gone tv-free before and spent the evenings reading, taking a walk, playing games...it was great! My husband and I parent differently during those times. It's time to make it permanant.
Don't think my children are the only ones who will need to adjust, though. I've justified many late nights channel-surfing with the excuse that I need some "Me Time" after everyone is tucked in bed. Reading tends to put me to sleep, but maybe that's what I need. Maybe I'll end up being a nicer Mom once it's all said and done.
Hey! I just thought of another great bonus to all of this! No one will care if we can't find the remote!!
I'm so happy.
Comments
Jun. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by dawnkick
I am happy for you. I have wanted to get rid of our TV for quite a while (we already don't have cable and only get about six fuzzy channels) but hubby won't let me get rid of it. Your house will be a much quieter, happier place now. Enjoy!
Jun. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by OldSchoolMarm
You are so brave! So isn't hubby addicted to college football in the fall (mine is) ? I'm sure it was very freeing and after giving my daughter the Iowa Test of Basic Skills these last few days, I'm seeing that her attention span and listening skills need some improvement. Hubby won't let me toss the TV but I definetly need to get more strict about viewing time.
Fantastic and convicting post!
Blessings, Julie
Jul. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Sarah
YAY for you! I'm excited to hear this news. When we moved into the new house, we kept our TV but it is only hooked to the VCR/DVD player to watch movies. Upstairs, we have a teeny-tiny TV in Dad & Mom's room... if you're lucky, and no one is standing in the closet, you can see that there are people moving around on the screen. I try to watch college basketball on it (about the only TV I'm ever tempted to watch), and it works great... as long as I don't care who's playing, what the score is, or how much time is left. ;-)
I will say the only other thing we miss about TV is watching the weather. So, we bought a nice weather radio that goes off whenever there is a weather warning in our area, and on which we can also listen to the forecast and whatnot. It's nice, especially out here in the sticks where we don't have tornado sirens and the like.
Anyway, good for you. It's a hard move, but I don't think that you will regret it.
Jul. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by simply42B
very cool...you go girl! i've often wanted to throw it myself...NOT because my children are addicted..but my husband won't let me. I'm going to try and enforce a "no TV day" and see how that flies.
Jul. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Queenbrownshuga
So how's it going without the TV? I think it's great that you were able to do that. I don't think we would ever do that cause we like to watch tv together as a family when certain shows come on. Congrats! I admire you for that!
Tirzah
