Dec 03 2008
This is What Happens…
…when you shut off the T.V.
BTW: This is a Jack-in-the-Box
Its almost a miracle - with the TV off, they are quiet, they are self involved. It is so easy to fall into the trap of “I am tired, I don’t want to deal” and then turn on the T.V. with the hopes that it will occupy our wee ones. I have found that this “great” plan backfires more often than not.
Coming home from work, stumbling in the door with children, diaper bag(s), laptop(s), and all the other periphenilia that comes along with both motherhood and full time employment, I want the opportunity to prepare dinner without the little guys pulling at my pant legs (actually what I reallywant is someone cooking dinner for me…but that’s a different post). I have often times turned on the TV to our favorite pre-school friendly channel, only to find them at my feet in no time.
We tried a little experiment…we shut the box off. Suddenly they had silently disappeared - we looked around, searched a little, and there they were playing quietly, with their toys, books, puzzeles, a random cardboard box. Without the TV on to distract them from their play they were able to focus on what they really wanted to do, and actually became too busy to pay attention to me.
Fortunately we have learned, the TV is off in the evening, and the boys play happily while we make dinner, clean up, and maybe even just relax a little ourselves.
