So, due to some bad behavior, we decided last week that we would take away tv priveledges from all the kids for a week. For those of you with kids, especially teens, you know that the removal of any electronic device causes panic, as they now have "nothing to do!" and no clue of how they are going to fill in all of this free time. For us, the tv has been somewhat of a problem in our home. It's like it has magical powers and the minute that it is turned on, the kids ability to do anything else, or even hear me speaking, immediately stops. They convert to instant zombies with their eyes glued to the screen, their mouths open, and drool (okay, maybe not the drool part...)We want them to enjoy tv and movies, because we too enjoy tv and movies, but it seems that this box and screen is more addicting to them than heroine, and without intervention they could forgo sleep and food and watch it for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours.
Because of their inability to control themselves (and to choose tv over other things like homework or getting up for school/class) we have slowly been placing restrictions on them. This, admittedly, has been hard because 2 of our "kids" are ages 19 and 20, and really aren't "kids" at all. They are, technically, adults. However, due to their life circumstances, their chronological age doesn't always meet up with their emotional/maturity age and poor decision making and irresponsibility on their part has caused us to restrict tv viewing time for them. We initially started by having a "no tv time" in the afternoons from 2-4, and also by having a rule that the tv has to be turned off by 10pm rule (they don't have to go to bed at 10pm, just turn the tv off, if they want to stay up after that and read, do homework, etc it is fine). It was actually this rule that got them into to trouble last week. We returned home last Thursday at 11pm from an evening of prayer and fellowship with other missionaries. As we approached our home we could see through the windows the kids up in the living room watching tv, but somehow...miraculously...by the time we arrived at the door and entered, the tv was shut off and 2 of the 3 were in their beds fast asleep!Hmmm.......
So, Bobby and I decided that a week without tv was in order. At first, the kids were severely afflicted, not knowing at all what they would do...and then it began....they discovered that there is life outside of television! The first day that the tv was turned off they pulled out some dusty board games that we had (and that I could never get them to play)and played...together...without killing each other...and enjoyed it. Since then, we have had board game tounaments almost daily. On Saturday a visitor came to stay with us, and we informed him of our tv "fast" so he participated in a vicious game of Monopoly with us. He enjoyed it so much that he told us yesterday that he plans on coming back to our home on Saturday to play again! In addition, other amazing things have happened...Samuel has finished the first 2 books in the Narnia series and Jonathan has read half of the book Twilight. And, (this is the BIG miracle!) the boys cleaned their room (Bea's room is almost always clean...difference between boys and girls!) and washed their clothes! Whoa! Two other great things that have happened is that they have been studying more and also have been more physically active. Bea had several tests this past week and her test grades went way up; and Samuel has went to the gym with Bobby almost every day this week and even suggested a late night game of basketball on Tuesday (which left me exhausted and realizing that I need to work out more too!).
The one week of no tv ends tomorrow, and I must admit that I am saddened by it. Bobby and I talked yesterday and he too has really enjoyed it, and we feel like the kids have too (although I am not sure if they will admit to it!). We decided that we would like to have 2 "no tv" days a week now. Days where we all can enjoy the simple things in life like playing a game, bouncing a ball, reading a good book, or having a heartfelt conversation. We are going to talk to the kids about it tonight and allow them to choose what 2 days we will be "turned off" so that they will have ownership in this decision(the only rule is that one of them has to be a weekend day). We hope that this "unplugging" allows them to grow more in all aspects of their lives. So "stay tuned" to see what happens next :)
No comments:
Post a Comment