If my television died tomorrow I wouldn't care. I know, I know. I should just wear a big, flashing neon sign stating "Does not belong in this country". Don't get me wrong, I used to be a tv addict. Specifically, a TIVO addict. I liked sitcoms and medical shows and reality shows and lawyer it up shows and dramas and pbs specials and poker.
When I was pregnant with Fizzgig and Drama Princess was under the age of 2, I still had my habit. I liked to keep the surrogate mommy on for background noise. One day as I was stuffing my face full of atomic lemon warheads (to ward off the nausea), I noticed D.P. staring at the screen; slack jawed, drooling, vacant. Like a frat boy watching porn. It was more than a little creepy. Shortly thereafter, D.P. would crane her neck to catch a glimpse anytime she came near the electronic crack - department stores, friends' houses, restaurants. It's unsettling to see yourself reflected in your child's glazed eyes. I decided she needed to quit cold turkey.
I kept the television off as long as she was awake. The color returned to her cheeks. The vultures stopped circling overhead. It was a good move. The girls don't have a tv habit. They get to watch movies on the weekends and Sesame Street during the week if they ask (which they almost never do). We don't forbid tv - they just don't see us watching it and so it doesn't occur to them to ask for it, unless they're feeling particularly under the weather. And I am all about soda crackers, warm blankets, tissue boxes, and Cookie Monster.
Buddha Butt and I don't watch much at night anymore. I limit my TIVO selections because I could *easily* get sucked into around a dozen shows if I watched them for a couple episodes. I TIVO 'My Name is Earl' ,Heroes, CSI, and whatever poker tournament is on. I do love a good Texas Hold 'Em tourny. Heroes is the only one I am dedicated to watching, though. And when they decide to cancel it, as they always cancel the ones I like, we may cancel our TIVO subscription. I know, sacrilege. But there are so many good blogs to read! And books! Which I should go do now. You too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Hey, you gotta be careful what you say these days - you may find yourself wearing an orange jumpsuit at a certain exclusive beachfront property.
- hey, just for the record, I never watched porn that way. Although I have been known to do that when I blog.
Zendra--What about Grey's sista?
Jim--WTF???
Just let me get this straight. You are not advocating for no t.v., you are just reminding us that you are more Zen because you don't watch it right? I mean, I only have regular t.v. without cable or digital and my schedule is filled to brim with television viewing. In my defense, I tend toward mindless comedies when available and I don't watch any of those t.v. shows that use killing of women as the entertainment (CSI Wisconsin, Special Elder Victims Unit, COPS, errr, no I sometimes watch COPS to make sure they aren't coming in after me. Everytime I have a man over who decides to sit around in his "wife beater" t-shirt, I peek out the window and switch on Fox to make sure I'm okay.) And DVDs don't count in all this viewing tabulation right?
I am too impatient to be zen. I try not to watch tv b/c I too easily get sucked into it. After a show or two or three I feel obligated to watch. Even if it's total crap. If I'm already time invested, I'll watch it through to the bitter end. I know my weakness, so I try and keep away. DVD's are a free pass as far as I'm concerned. :)
I love reading your blog. we are no TV people too. I think nowadays you either don't watch or have Tivo. I guess you are both. We don't forbid tv either, we have basic non-cable upstairs in my office mainly for Grey's purposes and the TV downstairs only plays DVDs. Jbean will get sucked in just like DP. Sometimes I don't even like her watching movies because she gets so sucked in. When Grey's goes then I won't need regular tv anymore.
I figure blowing off TV (which this Brady-Bunch/Happy-Days/Laverne-&-Shirley-hours-and-hours-of-mindless-television watching gal has also done) is just another example of how homeschoolers step out of "the world." Everyone knows we're rebels. School? Uh, no thanks. Be here at 8 am or else? I'll pass. Bow down to authority? Maybe later.
The deeper I get into this journey, the more I want to say "screw that!" to any imposed rules or societal norms (this is a pretty scary trend in me, actually). That includes doing stuff that *everybody* else does. TV is good mindless fun, but really, I'm okay with not knowing who's likely to win American Idol. Regular TV just gets annoying after you stop watching for a while anyway. And I'm interested to see what my kids will evolve into without the steady diet of TV. It's going to be strange and wondrous, I'm sure.
I do admit though, Netflix is a big part of my life. There's nothing better than sitting down for a four-hour marathon of Columbo. I just try to keep it to the weekends after the kids are in bed!
Post a Comment