I got it....

I finally get it. It's taken me a while but I think I get it. T.V is sucking the imagination out of my son. Don't get me wrong my kid does not watch a lot of television. Jer and I havn't paid for cable in what I think is going on 4 or mabye 5 years now? When we moved here thecable hadn't been disconnected, and still isn't, so we have free cable. For a while there when Cole was killing me with sleep deprivation, I turned to the tube for salvation. It was survive or not, and I chose to survive. The tube would be on from about 5:30am until 9 when I was able to drag my exauhsted butt of the couch, floor, or wherever I had crashed for a bit of sleep, and hit power off , start up the coffee and begin our day. It became a kinda habit. Now however Cole is sleeping pretty much through every night from 8:45 until 6:30am and we are getting a better nights sleep. That being said he does still get up sometime's twice a night for some water or "tent" (wanting his covers over his head??) I know. So now that I am sleeping better, I have had enough brains working to deduce that T.V is the devil. It is addictive, it steals all focus, it takes focus from you the parent and diciplinary, it's annoying as hell, there are truly only 2 shows I think worthy of being shown to my kid, and it sucks all the imagination, creative play, and plain old just being okay with me-ness out of our children. It does it for me, and it's doing it to him. I got really hooked on tlc, hgtv and slice. I love home renovations, I love decorating, I love all that stuff. But in me sitting there watching all of it, I wasn't activley participating. I refuse to let Cole become the same way. I love how imaginative and creative he is when we are out on our morning stroll and play. He knows what he wants to do and goes and does it. He never was one to get fully sucked into the tv, normally he'd have his shows on and just continue playing. But latley I have noticed that him initiating play has become less and less. He wants to watch tv and if I try to get him to play, I need to help him get into it. So where is this ranting and raving going you ask, let me tell you. I decided to conduct a wee survey of my own. I set up tv rules, Mrs. Nannery you'd be so proud! The first week, Cole was only aloud his 2 favorite kids programs in the morning. Super Why and The doodlebops. After that no T.V until after he woke up from his nap. Then he could watch while I got dinner going and until daddy got home. The second week T.V was eliminated from the morning. I would set out an art project or craft on the dinning table and he would head to that and be creative until breakfast, when we would eat and then head out for our morning walk. He would have a nap and when he awoke, we would read books instead of watching t.v. Then he would play and while I make dinner he could watch one program.
And he has turned into a whole new child! He loves cuddling up now, and reading books. He will go and take books out and bring them to me. He is starting to initiate play again. He begs to be outside every day, thank goodness for our location! And although it is a bit more work for me, I see the results in both him and my outlook on life. There are so many creative juices that just get going the more you immerse yourself into the world. I'm not saying he never watches T.V, we all have our days when we as parents do whatever we can to get by, but through the beauty of spring and these absolutley gorgeous spring days, I am getting back into the simple life I love so much. And I get it now. I really really get it.