Sounds like a punishment, right? But it isn't. Several months ago, the government issued digital boxes to those who didn't own digital tv's. We were one of those families. A few weeks ago, the box expired, broke, went off line---basically The Pope Family had no access to a television. At first it was hard. We watched DVD's all weekend(the box went out on a Friday evening). Princess Zaria and I watched Dreamgirls until she was able to act out all the parts. I can't hear 'Step into the Bad Side' without rolling my eyes. LOL.
We exhausted all of our dvd's in a little less than a week. Then, we started borrowing movies. We have a box full of VHS movies but who has the antique equipment to play the movies???? After watching movies, we began playing board games. We played Scrabble, Taboo, Uno, Sorry even DVD Disney Bingo. Things started getting easier. We began talking more. How was your day today led to full fledge family discussions. We talked about school, work, friends, favorite foods, etc. Sometimes, I don't miss the tv as much.
When I was in high school, I had a teacher (Mr. Glass) who proudly claimed that he didn't own a tv. I think he called it the 'boob tube' or something weird like that. He said that he used the time to read or travel. I was skeptical back then and thought "How could anyone not own a tv-on purpose?" Well, as I'm older I see. Now, I'm not saying we won't get another box or purchase a digital tv but it has been an eye-opening experience.
The next time you hear a media campaign urging viewers to turn off the tv for a day, try it. Try it for a week or even a month. It will, at the least, bring your family closer.
Do you think you could go with television for a week?
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This is awesome! No Tv really does bring family closer! Everything happens for a reason!
ReplyDeleteI hope that I have the ability to follow-through on a ban someday... Good for you guys!
ReplyDelete@Jaylen I agree. Things do happen for a reason. I think it was meant for our family to spend some quality time together bonding. My husband works long hours as a cook. As a mompreneur, my hours are crazt, as well. It helps to wind down with family.
ReplyDelete@ Tracy I think the hardest part is not being able to watch my favorite show: Law and Order.(not the LA one.) That is by far the worst Law and Oder ever made!
ReplyDeleteI love that you took this challenge head on! I'm pretty sure we could do it for at least a week, and our daughters (6 and 4) would squirm and protest at first, but they'd adjust.
ReplyDeleteWe limit their tv time to a total of 3 hours per day. That's still a lot, but we allow for some down time after school, and then something after dinner. I think TV is fine if parents remember to integrate quality outside time and other activities that allow for more active participation.
Lol. Not watching tv is a challenge, whether it is intentional or not. My daughter and I moved from Detroit, MI to Pleasant Grove, Ut last year and we currently are living with my big brother in his finished basement. Although the basement is cable ready and I have since then purchased a T.V., I intentionally choose not to hook it up to cable. Why? Several reasons; I am a student myself so it distracts from both of our studies, it creates "mommy and daughter" movie nites that I specifically set aside, and it allows us to get more things done around the house (chores). The most effective reason being would be that tv watching does not steal my daughters childhood time and instead we could utilize that time for extra curricular activities or just a walk to the park. I admit I miss my seasonal shows and I totally feel out of place when friends/co-workers discuss last nites episodes but the sacrifice is well worth it.
ReplyDelete@ Kaye LOL. What do you thik abou me? I had to watch Black Girls Rock the next day on BET online. I really miss Law and Order and HGTV. But having no tv allows my to focus more on my business. We haven't sweared off tv forever, though.
ReplyDelete@Execumama A week is a good start and your angels are young enough that it probably wouldn't bother them as much.
ReplyDeletei haven't really watched tv in ages. ask me to go w/out my computer though and i'd be joining a 12 step program.
ReplyDeletemy older kids don't watch much tv either. vampire diaries every thursday but that's about it!
great post!!
@Melissa I know what you mean. The computer can be addicting too, though. I use it so much as a part of my business and Zaria does for school that it would be more of a hassle not to have it. Thanks for responding and keep coming back:)
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