We did it!!

Erika here...

Well, we actually did it.  A family with 3 addicted television watchers was able to kick the habit for one whole year.  It wasn't easy, but it was more than worth it.  So, you ask... what's next?  Will we go back to our old ways?  Will we keep up this new lifestyle?

Ummm.... yes to both??

We definitely don't want to go back to having the television on at all moments of the day, but we do want to be able to watch it when we like.  However, I do worry about our addictive tv personalities coming back to haunt us.  So, we have decided on some television methodone. 

Our version of methodone is a combination of Apple TV, Netflix, and a television running just off an antenna.  We will not bring back our cable box for fear that the number of channels will offer too many temptations.  Netflix streams to our television via the internet and provides us with movies and a selection of television shows.  Apple TV offers new releases on movies and individual television shows for a price.  Therefore, if we really want to watch something that is new, we have to pay for it and watch it within 24 hours.  Hopefully, this will keep us on our toes.  The reason we decided to have some live television options with an antenna is primarily for sporting events.  It killed Steve that we couldn't watch the Super Bowl (about as much as it killed me that we couldn't watch the Oscars).  So, our antenna allows us to see only a few channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, WGN, PBS and FOX).  

As much as I feel that this does limit our options, it really does open us up to a whole lot of temptation to spend our down time in front of the tube.  I honestly hope though that this year has provided us with a new and healthy perspective to television watching.

For example, just this morning, I turned on our tv (so weird to say that, btw) and noticed that there was absolutely nothing on (unless you enjoy gymnastics, motivational speakers or japanimation).  My reaction was just to turn the tv off.  A year ago, I would have probably threw in the towel by resigning myself to watch the motivational speaker only to realize an hour later that I lost my morning. 

Is there a part of me that thinks the tv will be on a lot over the next few weeks only because it CAN be on?  Yes.  Definitely.  However, I hope we will find a happy medium.  I enjoy the quiet in my house.  I can't get over playing with my son for hours on end.  And, I love having my family together without an electronic device competing for our attention.

So, here we are.  Adjusting to our new life as best as we can. 

When asked if I would do it all over again.  Without hesitation, I say, "Of course!"  In fact, I encourage you to do the same.  You don't have to make a year long commitment like we did.  But, try it for a weekend, a week, maybe a month.  Your kids will get over it in a few days and adapt (at least we hope, right?).  You can even feel free to make me your sponsor.  I'll talk you through your cravings and keep you on the wagon.  No worries there. 

If I can do it, you can do it.

No TV for 2 more days??!!

We've had this little countdown ticker on this blog since the start.  The numbers always seemed to be so big - almost infinitesimal - like when you try and comprehend the number of galaxies in the universe or something.   To look at it today and see the number 2 - as in 2 more days until the countdown is over is...just... truly unbelievable. 

Have there been hiccups along the way?  Of course. This incident comes to mind.  We've also become a bit more lax over the last months.  Netflix streaming with hundreds of movies has led us to watch more than just 1 movie a week.  But, it is winter in Chicago and we are cooped up inside.  Not that I feel the need to defend my actions. 

Let me put it this way... without television we have done the following:

• I mustered up the moxie to leave the safety of a job and start my own business.  Huzzah!
• Steve has discovered he is a brewmaster by making some delish beers.  One even had pomegranate juice and seeds in it. 
• Beckett can take any normal household item and turn it into something superhero related to add to his extensive and ultra imaginative story lines he's developed in his little brain over the past year.
• Beckett and I have become really creative to fill our time together without television.  I even started a blog to share our ideas with other moms out there.  I really consider that blog a continuation of this one because it's the real chronicle of what my son and I actually did over the past year. 
• We did not watch the American Idol finale.
• We did not watch the Super Bowl.
• We did not watch the 2010 or 2011 Oscars. 

We definitely wanted to blog more, but as we got into this we realized that there is only so much you can say about not watching tv before it becomes mundane.  "Today, I read a book."  "Today, I checked facebook 80 million times."  "Today, I went to work, came home and raced cars up and down the hallway with my son."  "Today, I listened to music while playing Scrabble."  You get what I mean?

I'll post again in a couple days to let you know our new plans when this self-imposed television ban has been lifted.  But, until then, 2 MORE DAYS!!!