No TV Challenge

I have a great life. A husband who loves me, a son who adores me and pets who want to be around me constantly!

Those things would be all I really need in this life, but we live in the 'information age' and no one gets to live without some kind of technological gadget.

Enter in specimen #1: Television

Television has been around since the dawn of mankind... I think we are made to feel this way, although it's no where near true. Some people think it's akin to social suicide not to have a television residing in your home. Why is that? Because we can't all sit in a room together and have to deal with one another head on (like a family) without having a TV on so someone can tune the others out. Or, in those times of awkward silence, look to something else to fix the mood. Like: Oh goodness, I don't know what to say! Maybe if I stare at the tube long enough something interesting will come on and I can comment on that.

I have become extremely cautious about TV since I became a mother, at a rather young age. We are bombarded by so much stuff that they call 'entertainment', that I believe we become quickly desensitized to age appropriateness, laziness and just plain old sin.

Last week, a few hours before the Super Bowl was about to begin, my son and I were sitting around talking. He looked at me and said, "I bet I could go without TV longer than you could". Sounded like a challenge to me.

I quickly reminded him that it was he who had asked to watch TV every single stinking day that very week!
(It was driving me bonkers, every time he asked, so much that I literally wanted to pull my hair out!)

* When a mother gets to the 'hair pulling out' stage, you better run and hide.

A few moments later, certain he was not within an arms reach of me, he said it again. I told him I took it as a challenge and that for one week, starting the very next day, it would be no TV for either of us.

He immediately starting whining that he didn't mean it as a challenge and that he didn't want to do it. That's when I knew we must do it!

I am not anti-television. During the winter when there's not a whole lot to do, you will find me watching a movie or show. But, if it's a gorgeous day out and all I hear about is playing video games or watching this movie or that show, I get annoyed.

Now that winter is starting to come to an end here on the beautiful coast, I thought fasting of the TV would be just what this family needed before spring arrives! Ahhhh... Smell that fresh air!

Having the TV shut off for the week prompted me to start this blog in the first place. It also got my husband to sit down at the dining room table with me to eat our lunch and actually talk, rather than watch a Law & Order. It gave us the freedom from the TV in the evening, where sometimes we would eat dinner.

* Studies have shown that families who sit down to the dinner table together typically share their feelings with one another better and the children usually do better in school. Double benefit!

I have a family member, not mentioning any names, who could not sleep without the TV on. This, to me, was a shame. I would turn the TV off so that said person could really rest and they would practically jump up and say, "I was watching that" or "Turn it back on". It was the only way this individual could function during sleepy time.

It is clear to me now that they never got true rest because of the light that was always on and changing. Also, your mind and body can't possibly get to their truest form of sleep if there is constant noise, even that of a television.

* These are not just my opinions, they are medical facts backed up by research done on many different age groups and not just in the US.

Before I met my husband, and after I left my mother's house, I did not have a TV in my apartment. My son and I spent countless hours at the library and playing games on the living room floor. I think these are just some of the reasons we both have a love of reading and learning. Not to mention a great mother/son relationship. We talked and read to one another and actually looked each other in the eye.

I did eventually get a TV, but no cable. I have always thought it a waste of money, a luxury. A luxury I couldn't afford. We watched some movies, free from the library, and had a handful of video games which we played together.

I loved living that simply. Having too much choice and 'stuff' on hand, now a days, is seriously cramping my style. (And my son's brain!)

My last post, 'Stars in their eyes', was about my day this past week. My son was sent home from school with pink eye and guess what I did? I didn't want him touching anything, so I allowed him to watch a show.

Yes, I broke down. I gave into media. I allowed the TV to drench our minds as we ate lunch. All in the name of  'Don't Touch Your Face'!!!

What can I say? It worked! So, maybe we will try this fasting from TV again another week.

* Possibly during the season finale of House? My husband would have a conniption!