Well, this week has been quite an exercise. My family has, at the prompting of our local elementary school librarian, participated in No TV Week. While this is the first time we've participated in the event, it is apparently a formal, organized event and organization, as the website will show.
In any case, let me just say it's been tough. Not that I watch a ton of TV myself, although I do have my habits, I've come to realize how much I previously used TV to “babysit” while I did something else. Let's clarify - that doesn't just mean whatever is on the tube. That means movies and videos as well as video games, etc. ANYTHING that has to do with a television is off-limits!
Couple that with missing the one show I watch dilligently, House, and many St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts this week, and I've gotta say, I'm ready for the week to be over. Yes, there are a few other shows I might watch if I see them on, but those two are my real things. When baseball season is out, I really don't watch much.
One might think “Well, since you haven't been watching even a little TV, you should have all sorts of free time. Why haven't you posted to your blog?” Well, if one asks that question, one MIGHT have missed the fact that we were previously in a habit (a bad one, I might add) of allowing TV to babysit a little. Without TV, I've had to entertain more. (I'm not complaining. Just stating a change.)
So, in all it's been a positive experience. We've done more as a family. I've been able to do more stuff INTERACTIVELY with the boys rather than just passively watching whatever they wanted to watch. And I have gotten a few extra things done around the house.
We're planning to keep the concept going even after the week is up. No, we're not banishing our televisions from the house, but we're going to be picking some “TV-free days” each week. I'll be lobbying to make sure those don't fall on Tuesday nights or maybe some key baseball game nights... :)
(and yes, I'm going to be trying to post some more. There's certainly enough to talk about.)
Later.