This week was the National Turn Off Your TV Week. We were unknowing participants, at first, but once I found out I made an effort. Here is our tally.
Henry=0 hours
Calvin =1.5 hours
Agnes =Does she even watch the TV when it is on?
Phoebe=15 minutes (the news Monday morning before I even knew I wasn't supposed to be watching.)
David= He can be responsible for his own actions. Let's just say that he watched the most.
So overall it went well. The best part was that I didn't tell the kids that we weren't watching TV this week and they didn't seem to notice. Calvin just asks to "watch a show" every hour anyway so he is used to hearing me say no. It also helped that I had good book to read in the evenings and my nights are so chock full of meetings, etc. anyway that I don't have much time for TV to begin with.
And I am turning it back on today. Calvin needs an afternoon movie during Agnes' nap.
I wonder if I could go a week without the internet? I doubt it.
13 comments:
OK, I have to admit my sin of "watching." I watched no TV this last week, I did however sneak in a couple of episodes of BSG on DVD. But does that really count?
I did this a couple years ago. Jake was out of town for the week. We did really good until Friday when I was watching 3 extra neighbor kids and it was late in the afternoon. I just needed a break so I let them watch one movie. I didn't mind it at all. I wish I would have paid attention more and known it was this week.
Way to go!!!! You also thought "green" and conserved electricity.
Oops. I forgot. Good job, though. It amazes me how much I feel the kids will have a hard time and how little it really effects them once they get used to it. We have cut down on tv time though. Actually, with Tivo it helps to keep it under control.
Good for you!! I have been wanting to do this the first week of every month. I think it would be good for the family....especially me. Noticed you are reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I'm also reading that right now and we can't get enough of Juno. What a great movie!!
I didn't know about it so I committed a sin of omission. And, I wouldn't have done it anyway, because I depend on TV to be my companion when my real companion goes away. It's too quiet otherwise. Also, Phoebe, I need to borrow a good book. An easy, breezy read or two.
I didn't know about this either. Well, I knew that it existed but I didn't know it was last week.
For a long time I have been encouraging Matt to get rid of the TV. Let it go...let it go...we don't have cable anyway and I honestly think my life improved during the writers' strike.
And so we are in fact going to get rid of it! It's old and clunky and has big ugly rabbit ears and I hate it.
But we are getting a TV tuner for our computer monitor...and we often watch TV online anyway. So it's not like we're _really_ giving up TV. But I like to think it will still help.
And as far as giving up the Internet for a week . . . I really don't think I could do it. Which is why I don't feel too self-righteous when I'm being pious about TV.
It's just that I am so connected to people that way. Using the Internet, I chat with Matt and Hannah at intervals throughout the day . . . I keep up with old and current friends . . . I keep up with family . . . I work . . . I read the news. I could certainly curb my computer time and be more efficient with it. Maybe I will try that this week.
We tried to unplug, but I just needed my kids to watch a little. Kamryn(kindergarten) only watched less than an hour a day, which still sounds horrible, but a movie is two hours. Guess where they are right now? We're glad last week is over so we can do what we want again. Her school had a competition between the classes to see who could have the most activity time. She still had a million hours of playing outside, riding bikes, dance lessons and soccer games, reading etc. etc. I think she deserved her hour each day of TV. Unplugging is a good thing, but thank heavens we do have TV when we want it. Unfortunately Abbie also is addicted and there's no turning back now. Thank goodness for preschool!
I've not been a TV watcher for many years. I just can't get into any of the stuff on.
Although, if I'm somewhere where they like House or L and O, I'll watch it with them. I never seem to think of it on my own.
I watch T.V. on Jet Blue too - and they usually have the same episodes I've happened to see somewhere else - go figure.
I love old MASH episodes though. And years ago Dad and I would lie in bed late and watch St. Elsewhere - you don't even see reruns of that. But we liked it - and it seemed well done!
Phoebe, way to go! That is so great! We don't have a television right now so I guess we are already green eh? However, in Idaho watched tv enough to make up for it. Oops. Honesty that is so great I am proud of you guys for doing it.
Okay you have all officially lost your minds. Read/write less. . . watch more. That's what I say. What's next? No TV on school nights? No video games? No Ding-Dongs? I could easily go with out the net, but not the 60 incher. YOOOOOO GABBA GABBA!!!
PS- I have to go watch Lost.
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