Tech Fast Entry 1

(Our old alma mater spurred us to take on 2 weeks of the new year without something (we chose TV) and write about it. We thought the experiment updates we did for the article deserved some time on the blog. So here goes...)

Boy, are we cranky, the kids seem extra loud, and my usual “go-to” plan is unplugged. I am regretting our decision already as I watch Liv, still in her coat, sitting and staring at the dark screen with tears in her  eyes. “No more shows? Why?” she keeps repeating. (I’m realizing that the 8 hour drive home just now provided us ample opportunity to warn her about our decision, but I guess we just didn’t want to be in that close of proximity while her 4 year old mind came to terms.) Duncan, being only  1, does not care…yet. We have actually CANCELLED the cable while we were away visiting family so now that we are home there can be no wavering. A TV with access is too much temptation. Justin, took care of that.

We realized our tv viewing was a problem when we “couldn’t find the time” to do other things on our to-do list. With our group Bible study reading going until the last minute, my favorite hobby gathering dust, and time with the kids seeming forced, something needed to change. Justin had been after me for a while to try out a TV fast but I just couldn’t miss “my favs!” So much so, that I even convinced him to get us a DVR. Then the DVR started filling up with things we probably wouldn’t normally watch but, hey, we recorded it anyway! (Got to keep up on Hitler happenings, you know?) We started feeling like the recordings were assignments that must be watched to be deleted. Eventually we went from watching a few favorite shows a week to well, anything that looked remotely interesting. 

Liv was also having tv issues. One night when I told her we were going out to dinner (something usually exciting) she complained she “would miss her show and couldn’t go.” That was the last time I ever wanted to hear that. On school days, we do pretty well on curbing the tv but in the summer, over break, and on the weekends, the tv (PBS mostly, I swear) usually goes on at 8 and off at 7. It started when I was pregnant and tired and needed something for Liv to do. Then it was because I had a newborn and was tired. Then it was summer and the days were looong. Now… it’s just habit. She only watches a few minutes of it here and there but it is always in the background and seems to distract from real imaginary play.

So, the decision was made to cut the cable for a little while to gain some balance. (In all honesty, it wasn’t entirely by choice. I did fail to mention our cable bill doubled last month after an introductory price ended and when negotiations failed my husband sliced it all in the heat of the moment. (That may have had something to do with our choice.) Now we are home, the kids are in bed, and the unpacking is finished. Justin and I sit down to relax and stare at the dark screen. We have NO idea what to do and the house seems too quiet.