So you are probably wondering how the real 'person of interest' fared in our week going TV free. That person being my little one C. Forget about the multitude of ways that I kept myself busy, I'm not the one who's brain we are trying to save from zombielesence.
Now this wasn't the first time we've gone without TV for a week. And it was interesting to observe that every time that we go TV free the same thing happens and I even said it to myself the few days going into the week. Every time we go TV free C gets sick. Sure enough C was home for 2 1/2 days with a fever, not feeling well. Now, this is an issue simply because as a child my holy grail of being sick was getting to be sick on a couch and to watch a bunch of TV. In fact, in the past, with C, I've even pulled out the pull out couch for such a time. Another sacred ritual of my youth. So this time, I guess you could say that I went into the week prepared, that C would get sick and I wasn't going to let that stop us from succeeding at a week away from the screen.
It turned out to be quite easy. He was happy to do a little something than, lie down and nap for a while. It made me wonder who really makes the fuss about watching TV when they are sick. Mostly what he wanted was comfort and me around and luckily he got both last week cause I had a few extra days off from work.
As for the rest of the time, it went well. Naturally there were complaints and hopes to watch TV. He made far less fuss than I had anticipated. I find that the fuss that he usually makes about watching TV comes from having watched TV and having to stop watching TV. I find that the TV makes he edgy and cranky and that really wasn't the case last week, which in turn confirms, for me, that the TV has an effect on his mood and his need for it. It's possible that this time round of not watching TV was easier than usual. We already have restricted watching times, only on weekends. However it was the weekends of watching endlessly, or so it felt for me regarding C, that had me wanting this break.
By the weekend, after a trip to the library and a new stack of books, I found that I had replaced the TV watching. He wanted lots of stories. I decided to indulge that. I had already accomplished a lot last week and with the extra few days off, I was in no hurry to be doing anything else. It was great to feel free to just indulge C in some quality story time. Also, without the TV, C's little creative spunk returned in full force. He had a full arsenal of stuff packed up at the front door Saturday afternoon for us to go outside and have a picnic. It was nice to be overwhelmed by the grande plans of a five year old instead of the cranky poopy pants that is pent up with energy not expended and having to go to bed without having played or used his brain or body enough.
And of course that feeling, you know, the flash of guilt that we mama's often, ahem, sometimes get when we are 'choosing a battle' in the path that is most often taken. It was alleviated or at least moved on to another area that needs more time, more energy, more something or another to be improved, to reach an ideal, in the hopeful near future. Can I get an assistant please?
And currently out of everyone in the house, little C is now the only one that is still TV free from the beginning of last week. Go C! He's rockin' it and doesn't even realize it.
One source that helped us get prepared for this and other TV free weeks, is the book above, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV by Jan and Stan Berenstain. The Bear Family goes TV free for a week, of course in true Bear Family style Papa Bear is the real culprit. I liked that they are doing what we are doing. And in the end TV just isn't as interesting as C, Jeff and I re-discovered again this past week. We read this at bedtime the few nights before we began the week, and spoke with C about it so he knew it was coming up. It definitely helped him to understand the concept of what we are up to, and we had no problem initiating a smooth entry into the week.
So do you think you are up for the challenge? Don't think you can do it? Why not just give it a try and see what you discover. I assure you, every time we do there is new information out there, beyond the screen for us to learn and assimilate to make for a far more balanced life. XO. S
