Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tuning Out TV

My family canceled cable TV at the first of the year. We did this because we noticed that the TV was becoming an easy default when there was "nothing to do". Our kids would watch it any chance they had (after homework was finished of course) and Misty and I would channel surf just to "see what's on".

The TV in our home was like the snack cupboard in the kitchen, you're not really hungry, but when you walk by it you are bound to eat something. Our family "ate" a lot of TV.

So we made the decision to get rid of cable TV (our objective was to get rid of "useless" channels, cut some excess spending, and stay connected through the free TV aired by the major networks). Down-grading would be easy, after all, we would still get local channels right?....nope. Rabbit ears were useless in trying to tune in our favorite network shows.

So here our 50 inch plasma sits...virtually useless since January 1, anxiously awaiting those few moments it gets to fulfill its calling through the Wii or a DVD (those elements aren't off limits...just monitored for time).

I remember when Misty and I first told the kids we were canceling cable TV; they cried...yeah, really (Sponge Bob junkies going through withdrawal). We missed elements of it as well (no more Today Show with coffee in the morning and no more LOST in HD).

Yet since we've tuned out TV we've noticed several things change in our daily living: our kids no longer beg us for the "latest and greatest" that is advertised to children a zillion times a day, we spend more time reading and playing together as a family, and we find ourselves going to bed getting up earlier (giving us a more productive day).

There may come a time when we decide to re-connect our cable TV, but for now we are enjoying being tuned out to TV and tuned in to family.

What are other "snack cupboards" we should try and limit in our life?

1 comment:

Channy said...

I think it's wonderful to unplug!

I grew up with serious limitations placed on t.v.--yet, even as a preschool teacher of 10 years who KNOWS better, I find myself leaning on this crutch with my son.

I rarely watch television myself. However, I'm an inter-junkie! It is so hard to find moderation and balance in this modern age. Naturally, there are pros and cons to "tuning in"...but there are so many more advantages to "tuning out".

That reminds me that it is past midnight and I'm up reading blog archives. :P