Here We Go Again!

Some of you know our love hate relationship with TV. We LOVE to watch it and HATE what it does to our family. Some of you also know that if a TV is on Dan will stop whatever he is saying/doing/thinking and watch...open mouthed...like in a trance. If I want to bring my children from any room in the house all I have to do is turn on the TV. It doesn't matter what time of day or how loud the volume....they come RUNNING!

I often use evening TV watching as my way to hear adult conversations....Dan is a youth minister and a Seminary student. He is wonderful at balancing it all, but I am just saying...he's busy. I SHOULD be busy. If I weren't glued to the TV most evenings of the week I bet I would get lots more work done, or more reading, or at least more sleep.

There isn't anything wrong with watching a program or two. But it is certainly no substitute for life! I have an idea of what I would like our family evenings to look like. That ideal does not include 3 hrs of TV viewing.

There are so many things I want to do with the kids before they get so busy we hardly see them. I want to read LOTS of books out loud and someday I hope they will read to me. I want to study the word and memorize scripture. I want to live in a clean and peaceful home. I want to think more of what would be fun for my kids instead of what would be the least amount of work for me. TV makes me selfish. It ROBS my family of time spent together learning about each other and interacting with each other. It ROBS me of my joy in service.

BUT TV is not a thief. I invited it into my home! I let it entertain my children so I can read or write on my blog or even get dinner ready. SO I am ready to admit that I have to change this.
We got rid of our bunny ears today. After letting my kids watch 2 1/2 hrs of cartoons this morning. I am ashamed to even admit it. I am more ashamed to admit that this has become more of the norm than exception. BUT NO MORE! I am taking back control. From now on when we watch something it will be a deliberate choice. A deliberate choice of WHAT we watch and for how long.

We have done it before and will no doubt walk this road again but for now I am determined. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you I am a little scared too. You see TV has become a convenience for me. And convenience is good.....until you become dependant on it! Then you are just a slave to one more thing that makes life EASIER. I want this family to have a choice to be slaves to righteousness, not sitcom and ease.

This is, I am sure, one of those things I will have to tell my children "builds character." And as much as I hate to say it, it won't kill them or me for that matter. Now I will no longer feel the rush to get the kids to bed so I won't miss my show. And hopefully we will all reap the benefits of some renewed creativity.

We will probably still be doing some of this (our family movie theater night)
But hopefully no more of this (afternoon snack and tv watching)

Here are some of the ideas I have to fill the TV void my kids will surely feel:
-Baking
-Crafts
-School time with Mom (I have some workbooks to use)
-More responsibility with housework
-Playing more games together
-READING!!
-Coloring
-Play-time stations (this is where I pick out certain toys and put them in separate rooms for alone play time)
-Books on Tape
-Playing outside together
-Walks
-Science walks
-Prayer walks

Well the possibilities are nameless! I have two good friends who encouraged me in this decision! So thanks, girls, for showing me the way and helping me get a head start!