Best part of no television right now?
NO POLITICAL ADS!!
I am sure all you tv watchers are jealous that I have not seen ONE political ad for this round of elections.
One less big annoyance I have curtailed.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The tortoise always beats the hare
A miraculous thing happened yesterday.
I stopped moving.
I guess I did even more than that.
I stopped moving and had an acute awareness of what was happening around me.
I was playing outside and in the midst of play had to fall down onto my back in the grass. It was then that I looked up to see the most amazing blue sky, long white clouds gliding swiftly by, branches full of autumn colors and leaves gently falling down with the wind.
It was literally breathtaking. I may have even let out an audible, "Oh."
And, it was in that moment that I thought, "I should really slow down more often."
Now that I have stepped away from that moment, I suddenly began having these realizations that lack of television has sped us up in many ways. We, obviously, don't really stop and sit down for hours at a time watching something. I find myself on days when I am home with Beckett needing to go out and do something so that we don't get bored. I try to make it more than just running errands - we have a plan for some sort of adventure.
Now, I will get all philosophical on you. By speeding up our lives to fill the time haven't we really just provided ourselves with the opportunity to slow down and enjoy one another? I would answer that with a resounding, "YES!"
I offer concrete proof of our mutual enjoyment:
Many, many trips to the zoo.
Trips on the train... just because trains are incredible to a 3 year old.
Letting a 3 year old make a bed on the kitchen floor.
Catching a cicada in fake teeth.
Due to my old pal, Darcy's suggestion, becoming a nature explorer.
Nurturing our home-grown superhero.
Honestly, I don't know if it is lack of television that has provided me the opportunity to open my eyes and absorb the flora, fauna and familial fabulosity (A+ in alliteration, btw) or if it is just being a parent to a child who is taking it all in for the first time, but... wow... it is glorious.
So, please, go outside, lay down in the grass and look up. Bring your kids.
I stopped moving.
I guess I did even more than that.
I stopped moving and had an acute awareness of what was happening around me.
I was playing outside and in the midst of play had to fall down onto my back in the grass. It was then that I looked up to see the most amazing blue sky, long white clouds gliding swiftly by, branches full of autumn colors and leaves gently falling down with the wind.
It was literally breathtaking. I may have even let out an audible, "Oh."
And, it was in that moment that I thought, "I should really slow down more often."
Now that I have stepped away from that moment, I suddenly began having these realizations that lack of television has sped us up in many ways. We, obviously, don't really stop and sit down for hours at a time watching something. I find myself on days when I am home with Beckett needing to go out and do something so that we don't get bored. I try to make it more than just running errands - we have a plan for some sort of adventure.
Now, I will get all philosophical on you. By speeding up our lives to fill the time haven't we really just provided ourselves with the opportunity to slow down and enjoy one another? I would answer that with a resounding, "YES!"
I offer concrete proof of our mutual enjoyment:
Many, many trips to the zoo.
Trips on the train... just because trains are incredible to a 3 year old.
Letting a 3 year old make a bed on the kitchen floor.
Catching a cicada in fake teeth.
Due to my old pal, Darcy's suggestion, becoming a nature explorer.
Nurturing our home-grown superhero.
Honestly, I don't know if it is lack of television that has provided me the opportunity to open my eyes and absorb the flora, fauna and familial fabulosity (A+ in alliteration, btw) or if it is just being a parent to a child who is taking it all in for the first time, but... wow... it is glorious.
So, please, go outside, lay down in the grass and look up. Bring your kids.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The party question
"How is life without tv going?" Steve and I are asked this as we begin almost every conversation with friends and family that we haven't seen in a while. Most often, we answer, "Great! We've just gotten so used to it, that we hardly even think about television anymore." But, for those of you who want the more personal answer...
It's... just... okay.
There. I said it.
Sometimes, it's boring.
There. Now I really said it.
There are some weeks when Steve and I watch more than one movie in a week. We have Netflix streaming through our Wii, so we have a plethora of movies at our fingertips whenever we feel the urge. This is dangerous. Especially now that it's getting colder outside.
We also allow Becks to watch shows on the computer in the morning so we can get ready for work, get the house in order, etc. Do I feel guilty about this? Well, yes, actually. I know that a 20 minute episode of Yo Gabba Gabba isn't harming him. But, it's more the feeling that we need this "thing" to occupy our son so that our lives are easier for those 20 minutes. Let me be honest here. I understand that I am being unduly hard on myself. He is spending way less time with his virtual friends than he used to, but I guess all moms in this day and age suffer from what I can refer to as a "Mommy Complex." This feeling that we need to have a successful career and then when we are not working, we have to then entertain, teach and engage our children for the rest of our waking hours. It's exhausting. And, frankly...
Sometimes, I'm just tired. And, that's okay.
But, we are trucking along. I am filling hours upon hours of time with work for the new biz. Beckett and I are finding new adventures every week to consume our extra hours together now that I am setting my own schedule. And, I'd be happy to tell you what Steve has been up to, but, he has stopped blogging!!! I am asking all loyal followers to beg him to get back on it! I love seeing his posts, and would love for all of you to get a load of his intelligent and witty perspective on life.
In the meantime, I'll be back soon with some pictures and tales.
And, we'll only watch one movie this week.
It's... just... okay.
There. I said it.
Sometimes, it's boring.
There. Now I really said it.
There are some weeks when Steve and I watch more than one movie in a week. We have Netflix streaming through our Wii, so we have a plethora of movies at our fingertips whenever we feel the urge. This is dangerous. Especially now that it's getting colder outside.
We also allow Becks to watch shows on the computer in the morning so we can get ready for work, get the house in order, etc. Do I feel guilty about this? Well, yes, actually. I know that a 20 minute episode of Yo Gabba Gabba isn't harming him. But, it's more the feeling that we need this "thing" to occupy our son so that our lives are easier for those 20 minutes. Let me be honest here. I understand that I am being unduly hard on myself. He is spending way less time with his virtual friends than he used to, but I guess all moms in this day and age suffer from what I can refer to as a "Mommy Complex." This feeling that we need to have a successful career and then when we are not working, we have to then entertain, teach and engage our children for the rest of our waking hours. It's exhausting. And, frankly...
Sometimes, I'm just tired. And, that's okay.
But, we are trucking along. I am filling hours upon hours of time with work for the new biz. Beckett and I are finding new adventures every week to consume our extra hours together now that I am setting my own schedule. And, I'd be happy to tell you what Steve has been up to, but, he has stopped blogging!!! I am asking all loyal followers to beg him to get back on it! I love seeing his posts, and would love for all of you to get a load of his intelligent and witty perspective on life.
In the meantime, I'll be back soon with some pictures and tales.
And, we'll only watch one movie this week.
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