Let's "Kill Our Television"

You've seen that bumper sticker that demands, "Kill Your T.V.," right? I've been thinking about that lately. I have a dear friend who grew up without a T.V. Her family would watch videos on a computer monitor when they wanted recorded entertainment. Overall, my friend felt the experience was so beneficial that she made sure her husband was okay with them not owning a television. I've always admired her for that, for recognizing that there is so much that can be experienced and enjoyed without the mind-boggling and mind-numbing device.

Before I met my husband, I didn't have cable or satellite T.V. With the limited number of channels available, I rarely watched it at all, but I would occasionally rent movies. I read. I cooked. I practiced yoga. I studied. I worked. I walked. I listed to books on c.d. I spent time outside. I sat. I dreamed. I played with my cats.

After I met my husband, who is a sports lover extraordinaire, I argued admirably against paying for extra T.V. channels; I didn't win the argument then, and in many ways I've enjoyed the ability to watch National Geographic, Planet Green, even Food Network, and I've felt the ease of ordering a movie from the computer rather than heading out to the video store. But I don't want V. to grow up surrounded so much by the flash and fastness of the T.V. I want her to be a child who can entertain herself, who can enjoy quality time with her family by playing games or reading or taking a walk or baking something special. I want the T.V. to be a background appliance, like the blender. We can turn it on when it might be useful in some way, but we don't want its buzz in our ears all the time.

So recently I mentioned my desire to L. again (yes, I know this is football playoff season!). V. understands so much already; she's already pointing to the c.d. player when she wants to hear music. I didn't want her pointing to the T.V. to tell us she wants to watch a mixed martial arts fight or "House Hunters International." And I didn't want to sit, numbing myself with visions of houses I will never buy rather than cleaning the one I have!

Given the amazing and loving husband that he is, L. hasn't turned the T.V. on in days, and I've been blissed out by the joy of sitting in the living room after dinner, listening to Native American flute music, crocheting, watching L. and V. play on the carpet, putting my crocheting down when V. makes her way over to me. Evenings feel more peaceful, their rhythm slower. This feels like quality time with my family...and with a much better soundtrack too.

Give it a try with us; just for five days, keep the T.V. off. Cover it up even. Now, what will you do? And how will you feel?