TV Time = Guilty Time

[cafemama]

The thing you learn quickly as a mom (and even as a mom-to-be) is that there is no end to the constant stream of guilt we heap upon ourselves. My latest guilty obsession is TV viewing and whether I'm somehow harming my son's development with the boob tube.

Here's my situation. I get home from work at 7pm. I've been away from home since 8am. The babysitter hands my son (7 months) off to me. It's his bedtime so I immediately get him in his PJs while we talk and sing and then get him a bottle. Then we go to the couch and I give him his bottle to begin our bedtime routine (which stretches anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours unfortunately. Many nights I go to bed as soon as he finally falls asleep at 10). While he has his bottle, I basically multitask and I we watch Oprah or The View or whatever talk show I recorded that day. It's my time to unwind. But recently I'm feeling guilty about it because he suddenly seems very interested in what's on the TV. He watches and laughs now, whereas before I felt like he was somwhat mesmerized by the flashing box, but not really seeing the images.

Should I stop watching TV at night? I honestly feel like it's a bit of a sanity saver for me. It's very difficult for me to come straight from work to bedtime (THE most stressful few hours in our household because he is not easy to get to sleep) and not have that time to let go of my day and recharge a bit.

And should we be limiting any TV viewing that we do to kid programs? Is exposing my son to Oprah worse than The Wiggles?

On the positive side, he doesn't watch any TV during the day. So, we're not talking about hours of TV a day. So, that helps lessen my guilt a bit.

But on the other side there is the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that kids not watch any TV before the age of 2. (Do the people making these recommendations actually have kids?) And rumblings that TV viewing could trigger ADHD or autism.

So, what's a mama to do? How do you deal with TV viewing in your house? And if you're a working mom, how do you squeeze in some time for yourself?

 

[aaflyin4alivin]

Jun. 6, 2007 at 12:49 PM the wiggles...arrrggghhhhh....hot potato hot potato.... you get those songs in your head and they are there for days...arrghghghgh

[ausmama]

Jun. 9, 2007 at 10:52 AM youre sitting there with him, having a emotional moment, whether its an exhausted one or not. its part of his routine,and im sure he would be as happy and content if the radio was on, a cd, or the sound of the world outside. recommendations are just that... a guide to go on... i wouldnt feel guilty over a few hours of cuddle time with your son, while the tv is on. :)

[mamamaria]

Jun. 12, 2007 at 12:29 AM i have the same guilt sometimes (i thank catholic school for that).  i've always watched alot of tv.  i leave it on when we're home during the day as background noise.  it's not something i brag about.  but honestly, at seven months your son doesn't know whats going on on the tv.  and even if he did, that oprah's one smart chick.  i think the most imortant thing is spending time with him