No-TV Wednesday

Last summer, inspired by a new friend's experience, we decided to try something new at our house....No TV for one day a week!

No Backyardians...now Wonderpets...no videos of any kind. No HGTV for me... no news shows for my hubby...no unwinding a bit with our TV in bed. (How would we ever get to sleep?)
Somehow, we made it through each and every Friday. In fact, it was a resounding success! So much so, that I decided that as soon as June rolled around again, we'd start over- kind of make it our summer tradition.

Well, I was a little late getting back to it, I'm sorry to say. But last week we finally resumed our little plan -only I re-named it "No-TV Wednesday."

Before I expound on this idea a bit more, let me first say this is no small undertaking for someone like me. Why? Because I could have been the poster child for the TV Generation of the 70's.

In fact, I still have my little diary that my mom gave me when I was seven or eight (the same age that my oldest child is now.) There are several pages devoted to my all-time favorite shows, scribbled in my second grade hand, listing each program right down to their time slot which I had so wonderfully memorized. And here's something even more shocking... I STILL have some of them memorized!
Why, who can forget eating a bowl of ice cream on Friday nights at 8pm, watching a never-before-seen episode of The Brady Bunch? And then there was That Girl, starring Marlo Thomas (Tuesday nights, 8 pm, I believe...). I wanted to be her when I grew up- complete with huge eye lashes. And of coure, the ever-popular "My Three Sons" with the tapping sneakers in the intro. (Tuesdays? Or was it Thursdays?) This was the stuff life was made of!

Anyone under 39 and a half is probably shaking their heads in confusion, but trust me...these were all blockbuster nights in the early in the early 1970's- especially around my house.
You see, I was an only child and though I played with friends, had sleep-overs, and enjoyed books and playing doll house by myself, I still ended up watching a lot of TV during my growing up years and beyond. It was like a very good friend. And sometimes, unfortuantely, an enemy. My parents had it on every night like millions of other Americans, and I sometimes watched things that I didn't like just because "they were on"...or worse yet, watched things that I probably shouldn't have.

As I look upon my old diary, it's pretty amusing...but would I really want my own seven year old's diary to be all about her favorite TV shows...or about her life. Hmmm.

My husband, on the other hand, had a period of time growing up when television was banned. These are what I refer to as "the lost years." When I fondly quote a famous line from the era ("A little song, a little dance, a little selzer down your pants..."), or recall a famous commercial (Let's get Mikey- he eats anything!") he just stares blankly. Poor guy... so clueless....so deprived.

He does now, however, love unwinding with the news and history channels after work...and especially at bedtime. He sets the timer and blissfully falls asleep as if it were a lullaby. And as with many married folks, this is also now my habit. So when we have to go to bed with dark and quiet...it's just...weird! Do other people really do that?

So....now that you know a little of our background, you can see why choosing of our own (Okay-- MY own will) to keep the TV off one day every week is a huge deal.

But a funny thing happens whenever Wednesday rolls around... we have to look for other forms of amusement! Isn't that amazing?

My children will, depending on their moods:
1) play with their actual toys (astounding concept, isn't it!)
2) find yet even more toys they forgot about at the bottom of their toy boxes
3) play outside
4) draw pictures
5) look at books
6) build a fort with chairs and blankets in the livingroom
7) play one of their many board games
8) make a puppet show
9) listen to a story in tape
10) do countless other things that make childhood so much fun

Is there ever a bit of revolt- does whininess ever rear it's ugly head? Once in awhile...and sometimes even among the kids! ;)
It is a bit of a sacrifice for all of us, I cannot lie. But overall, the experiment that turned into a family tradition has been beneficial for us all. To not rely on television- even good television- for survival and happiness is a great practice.

Lest you think that on "normal" days I perhaps park the girls in front of the TV all day, have no fear...we have limits on the rest of the days, too! But it's good to know that we are able to not only function but actually enjoy the day without even one little click of the remote. Amazing.

So...I guess this is my own first version of Works for Me Wednesday. Because No-TV Wednesday works for us.

Now I'm thinking I should give myself a No-Computer Monday. (shudder!) OK...perhaps I need to give that a lot of thought before doing something quite so radical...

Who can name the popular TV show that I quoted from?