Comments on: How We (Almost) Gave Up TV http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/ Simple Tips To Enjoy Life Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:03:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Simple Question? | Serene Journey http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-2931 Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Simple Question? | Serene Journey Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:32:16 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-2931 [...] if for 24 hours I shut off the computer, TV and cell phone and interacted with really living and breathing [...] [...] if for 24 hours I shut off the computer, TV and cell phone and interacted with really living and breathing [...]

]]> By: Sherri http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-2431 Sherri Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:47:27 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-2431 I'm afraid we beat you to it Bruce! lol we have a 42 inch LCD with an antenna on the roof! On very good/exceptional days we can pull in all 4 channels but normally it's a snowy 3 lol What your kids are going through is exactly what we were afraid of for our kids, being left out and not knowing any of the programs. But yes I think moderation is key. Thank you so much for your comment. I’m afraid we beat you to it Bruce! lol we have a 42 inch LCD with an antenna on the roof! On very good/exceptional days we can pull in all 4 channels but normally it’s a snowy 3 lol

What your kids are going through is exactly what we were afraid of for our kids, being left out and not knowing any of the programs. But yes I think moderation is key. Thank you so much for your comment.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-2430 Bruce Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:36:51 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-2430 When my wife and I got married (about 10 years ago) we made the decision to live as frugally as possible in order save up as much as we could to buy our first house. One of the decisions we made was to give up the cable TV bill, and where we lived had only one local channel that we could get clearly. The 20 year old hand me down TV died a few months later and we never replaced it. To make a long story short, 10 years, two kids, and a few houses down the road, we just got a new tv and cable again. I have noticed a severe change in our family interactions (much less of them) and the children's behaviour now seems to emulate their favorite TV characters a little too much for me. On the up side my children are interacting with their peers better now, perhaps because they now have another common interest to talk to their friends about. Our solution, like Gwynn mentions, is moderation. Each gets to choose one show of 1/2 hour in length, and I am going to try to PVR our shows to limit our exposure too. (Thanks for the tip) If that fails than I will probably be the only person to have a wide screen hi-def television attached to a pair of rabbit ears! ;) When my wife and I got married (about 10 years ago) we made the decision to live as frugally as possible in order save up as much as we could to buy our first house. One of the decisions we made was to give up the cable TV bill, and where we lived had only one local channel that we could get clearly. The 20 year old hand me down TV died a few months later and we never replaced it. To make a long story short, 10 years, two kids, and a few houses down the road, we just got a new tv and cable again. I have noticed a severe change in our family interactions (much less of them) and the children’s behaviour now seems to emulate their favorite TV characters a little too much for me. On the up side my children are interacting with their peers better now, perhaps because they now have another common interest to talk to their friends about.

Our solution, like Gwynn mentions, is moderation. Each gets to choose one show of 1/2 hour in length, and I am going to try to PVR our shows to limit our exposure too. (Thanks for the tip) If that fails than I will probably be the only person to have a wide screen hi-def television attached to a pair of rabbit ears! ;)

]]> By: 7 Things That Were Better Before They Got “Better” | Serene Journey http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-1714 7 Things That Were Better Before They Got “Better” | Serene Journey Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:34 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-1714 [...] all this choice we used to play outside, get more done and actually connect with our family. Since we’ve turned off the TV we’ve noticed big changes in ourselves and our interactions with our family [...] [...] all this choice we used to play outside, get more done and actually connect with our family. Since we’ve turned off the TV we’ve noticed big changes in ourselves and our interactions with our family [...]

]]> By: Gwynn http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-279 Gwynn Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:11:01 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-279 Hi Tasha, We didn't let our eldest son watch TV until he was around 9 months old. Around that time we found that he would be glued to the TV whenever we visited friends that had it on in the background. So we decided to let him watch some TV, just not hours on end. It's all about moderation and balance. Hi Tasha,

We didn’t let our eldest son watch TV until he was around 9 months old. Around that time we found that he would be glued to the TV whenever we visited friends that had it on in the background. So we decided to let him watch some TV, just not hours on end.

It’s all about moderation and balance.

]]> By: Tasha http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-271 Tasha Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:01:54 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-271 I have been seriously contemplating unplugging the TV for quite some time now, but have been too chicken. I love that you list what you discovered, and ways to ease out of the habit. I have very young children, and I can already see the addiction forming, and I have to reign it in now. Finding this post was kismet! <abbr><em>Tasha’s last blog post..<a href="http://leavingatrailinthemud.blogspot.com/2009/03/husband-is-currently-working-in.html" rel="nofollow">road trip, again?</a></abbr></em> I have been seriously contemplating unplugging the TV for quite some time now, but have been too chicken. I love that you list what you discovered, and ways to ease out of the habit. I have very young children, and I can already see the addiction forming, and I have to reign it in now. Finding this post was kismet!

Tasha’s last blog post..road trip, again?

]]> By: gwynn http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-263 gwynn Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:40:10 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-263 No kidding Michael. When I was handed that laser pointer I had no idea that it would lead to me not watching TV. Not an obvious connection at all. :) No kidding Michael. When I was handed that laser pointer I had no idea that it would lead to me not watching TV. Not an obvious connection at all. :)

]]> By: Michael http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-255 Michael Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:51:32 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-255 Great story, Gwynn! Isn't it amazing what "mishaps" and adversities can teach us? <abbr><em>Michael’s last blog post..<a href="http://lovetospare.com/2009/03/05/brace-for-impact/" rel="nofollow">Brace for Impact!</a></abbr></em> Great story, Gwynn!

Isn’t it amazing what “mishaps” and adversities can teach us?

Michael’s last blog post..Brace for Impact!

]]> By: Fellowship Fridays: All About Family | http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-253 Fellowship Fridays: All About Family | Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:39:28 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-253 [...] How We (Almost) Gave Up T.V. We all know we should watch less T.V. (or none at all!). But giving it up is not so simple. This [...] [...] How We (Almost) Gave Up T.V. We all know we should watch less T.V. (or none at all!). But giving it up is not so simple. This [...]

]]> By: Gwynn http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/02/how-we-almost-gave-up-tv/#comment-61 Gwynn Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:41:23 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=391#comment-61 Just had a listen to it now on youtube. It's interesting that the song is now 18 years old but a lot of the points are still relevant. Now I just need to find a way to get that song out of my head! :) Just had a listen to it now on youtube. It’s interesting that the song is now 18 years old but a lot of the points are still relevant.

Now I just need to find a way to get that song out of my head! :)

]]>