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Unplugging the TV for Good -- One Mom's Story
April 20, 2009 at 4:51 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (41)
Have you ever considered turning off the TV -- for a day, a week, or even for good?
If so, today might be a good day to start -- it's TV Turnoff Week. That's what former television addict CalliesMommy25, mom of 2 year old Callie, did recently. Read her experience with giving up television for a month in her personal blog.
Not to ruin the surprise, but CalliesMom never did go back to TV.
"We still don't have one, and I LOVE it," CalliesMommy25 says. "It's made such a HUGE difference in the lives of me and my family. I get a lot of slack about it, people don't think it's a good idea because it seems so normal to have TV and so unusual not too, but I'm getting used to that and just letting it go."
In addition to some of the positive changes she's seen in herself -- giving her more time to devote to being a good mom by reading cookbooks and preparing healthier meals, and more reading and Bible study time to enhance her relationship with God -- CalliesMom has seen some very positive changes in her daughter.
"Callie has learned to entertain herself so much better, and since I’m not using a babysitter, I don’t feel guilty about it at all," she says. "Don’t get me wrong, I spend a lot of time with her. We have all meals at the table now, so she doesn’t even complain about her high chair anymore. She doesn’t even think for a minute that we’re not going to eat at the table, and she eats so much better now than she did before without all of the distractions."
Have you or will you try to give up television for any period of time? Are you and your family happier for it?
FILED UNDER: activities, girls, health
Comments:
I would NEVER give up my TV. I have no problem keeping it off during the day but I like my nighttime shows. :) It rains non stop here, so the winters would be very long without a TV, but in the summer we rarely watch it.
That would so not happen. Why not just give up the computer too?
We turn off the TV for a day every once in awhile. I am not going to do it for a week. That is how I unwind after the kiddos are asleep.
Wait- the Mom had the t.v. on during dinner? We watch television after homework is done and never during meals. If it is nice outside, we go outside. TV is for when it's dark, and half of the members of the family are occupied in tasks that don't involve others (showering comes to mind.) I think t.v. is fine, but it isn't a babysitter.
I let my kids watch TV after the homework is done. They need some time to unwind before bed just like adults do.
We didnt have cable for a good 6 months at least, probably longer, then we got it again, now we are down to having the basic cable, I think there are 20 or so channels.
My DD (1 year) does not watch tv, unless it's with me during the day. That would consist of the news at noon, & then its off.
My SD (14) has limited screen time (2 hours of computer, tv, GameBoy or PS2 perday).
Honestly, if it weren't for Dirty Jobs & The Food Channel, I wouldn't mind giving up cable... I would still watch Desperate Housewives online though :)
Now my DH... he wants the tv on all the freakin' time, blaring World's Worst Drivers or crap like that. It drives me NUTS!!! I just walk over, turn it off, & tell him, "It's quiet time now."
We have completely given up TV as well and absolutely love it. We never watched a whole lot to begin with though, which is part of the reason we gave it up (it just didn't warrant the high cost we paid for such short times). Hubby and I still watch our favorite shows online and our daughter (2 yrs 3 mo.) never even asks for it. Very rarely she will watch a short DVD, 30 minutes or so, that happens about once or twice a month. Very rarely I do miss the days where I can just veg out in front of the TV but then I remember how you get sucked in on those days and just never get off the couch all day. That is clearly not the example I want to set for my daughter. She spends lots of quality time with us, has plenty of free play time by herself. Unwinding is done by reading bedtime books in our house, no TV necessary.
I'm the TV junkie in my household, and I would never, ever give it up willingly. Neither of my kids has ever been very interested in TV. I found plenty for them to do when they were little to encourage other interests. It can be done. On the other hand, I am also an avid, book in my hand all the time, one-going-in-every-room-in-the-house reader, too, and, while they don't dislike reading, they don't read like I do, either. So, there you go.
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The only time our TV is on is after DS goes to bed. Other than that he may watch 1 short video a week. Hubby and I watch maybe 1-2 hours a day so no, it would not be a problem for us. Weekends and even some weekdays our TV is never turned on anways.
JasonsMom2007 Apr. 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM