I put our T.V. in the closet.
It's been about a month so I was reflecting on our life without tv, and wanted to share, mostly to remind myself if I start to waver.
I've been pondering this move for years, but I always balked at the last second. I'm a single mom--what would I do without the 20 minute miracles from Netflix (Daniel Tiger, The Duggars, Dora, Curious George, and Jessie) when I've got to get something done or take a shower? I could justify it so easily.
One day last month after church I was thinking about God and life and what I hold on to too tightly. I kept thinking about T.V. The shows we watched were pretty tame, and several even encouraging and educational (The Duggars and Daniel Tiger, especially). But couch-sitting and living seemed miles apart, and I could see clearly which one we were gravitating to more and more on weeknights. There were never grand plans to come home and flop down in front of the T.V., but it could easily slide into that kind of night.
So, I thought, I'll just mention it to Lucy. This was a slightly devious plan and a cop-out because I was sure she'd be horrified by the suggestion, solidifying my justification that it just wan't practical for us. After nap, I broached the subject.
Me: I've been thinking about getting rid of our T.V.
L: Whaat?? I don't want to do that!
Me: (Smugly thinking that this wasn't really going to happen) Well, I just thought it might be good for us...
L: What do you mean?
Me: Well, maybe we'd do other things more. Play games, or go outside...
L: Let's do it right now!!
Hmm... It's hard to argue with that. So we put it in the closet.
The month has flown by, as most do, so I tried to think back and see if it's been different. We haven't really noticed in the every-day, but I think small changes have added up to something lovely. We have definitely spent more time on the shaggy blue rug in front of her bookshelf, reading books and playing games. We have taken nice, crunchy fall walks. We have cooked more, which is not something I generally love to do, but considering the company/help I have, I appreciate that positive time together. We have cleaned more and danced more. It hasn't been a huge, jarring change. Just a little more of the sweet things and less of the mindless. But real change, for the better.
This morning instead of her watching Dora while I got ready, I had a chipper little pajamed girl pop in my bathroom and ask, "Can I be your company?" My mornings are a little longer but I just can't turn down an offer like that.
We haven't been completely t.v. free, as she sees some at her sitters and I've watched a few shows on my laptop on Netflix after her bedtime. We also unashamedly watch Daniel Tiger during the hair process. We had a movie night tonight, and I hauled the T.V. out, wondering if it would be hard to put it back.
It wasn't.
It's been about a month so I was reflecting on our life without tv, and wanted to share, mostly to remind myself if I start to waver.
I've been pondering this move for years, but I always balked at the last second. I'm a single mom--what would I do without the 20 minute miracles from Netflix (Daniel Tiger, The Duggars, Dora, Curious George, and Jessie) when I've got to get something done or take a shower? I could justify it so easily.
One day last month after church I was thinking about God and life and what I hold on to too tightly. I kept thinking about T.V. The shows we watched were pretty tame, and several even encouraging and educational (The Duggars and Daniel Tiger, especially). But couch-sitting and living seemed miles apart, and I could see clearly which one we were gravitating to more and more on weeknights. There were never grand plans to come home and flop down in front of the T.V., but it could easily slide into that kind of night.
So, I thought, I'll just mention it to Lucy. This was a slightly devious plan and a cop-out because I was sure she'd be horrified by the suggestion, solidifying my justification that it just wan't practical for us. After nap, I broached the subject.
Me: I've been thinking about getting rid of our T.V.
L: Whaat?? I don't want to do that!
Me: (Smugly thinking that this wasn't really going to happen) Well, I just thought it might be good for us...
L: What do you mean?
Me: Well, maybe we'd do other things more. Play games, or go outside...
L: Let's do it right now!!
Hmm... It's hard to argue with that. So we put it in the closet.
The month has flown by, as most do, so I tried to think back and see if it's been different. We haven't really noticed in the every-day, but I think small changes have added up to something lovely. We have definitely spent more time on the shaggy blue rug in front of her bookshelf, reading books and playing games. We have taken nice, crunchy fall walks. We have cooked more, which is not something I generally love to do, but considering the company/help I have, I appreciate that positive time together. We have cleaned more and danced more. It hasn't been a huge, jarring change. Just a little more of the sweet things and less of the mindless. But real change, for the better.
This morning instead of her watching Dora while I got ready, I had a chipper little pajamed girl pop in my bathroom and ask, "Can I be your company?" My mornings are a little longer but I just can't turn down an offer like that.
We haven't been completely t.v. free, as she sees some at her sitters and I've watched a few shows on my laptop on Netflix after her bedtime. We also unashamedly watch Daniel Tiger during the hair process. We had a movie night tonight, and I hauled the T.V. out, wondering if it would be hard to put it back.
It wasn't.
Yay! TV sucks away our lives so much, doesn't it. Good reminder. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete