The world, doctors, scientists, etc. criticize parents for letting their kids watch too much TV. Well, tonight I paused the TV to coordinate 4th of July plans via Facebook with a friend who's phone has been stolen and via cell phone with my husband. In the meantime, I directed my children (now 6.5 and 3 yrs. old) to get their pajamas on and brush their teeth. Obviously, they don't have my full attention, but this is reality folks. Mom is often trying to do three things at once.
Here's what happens when you turn off the TV for 30 minutes:
- one child argues that they don't want to brush their teeth
- another child refuses to close the curtain on the front window while you sit in your pajamas
- Mom yells at the top of her lungs because she is trying to accomplish three things at once and neither child is listening -- and should be quite capable of completing the tasks as requested before the 2nd Coming
- rough housing causes the female child to break the male child's plastic sunglasses, causing tears in both parties
- he tells her she is never going to get any new sunglasses ever again as punishment, causing tears in the female child
- rough housing causes her to hit her head on the wall, again causing tears
- hugs all around
- Mom finishes "coordinating" between the two men on phone & Facebook
- he brings his Leapster into the bathroom "paused" so he can brush his teeth, Mom moves it out and reminds them electronics and water don't mix -- and there is a strict "no non-bath toys" in the bathroom policy
- female child is SHOWN how to squeeze toothpaste from the tube after claiming she can't do it
- female child walks by said Leapster and turns it off, causing tears in male child
- female child after apologizing, then decides to hop like a bunny while squeezing between the door and the male child, ends up hitting the male child on the chin with her hard head, causing tears in BOTH parties, and a bloody nose in the male child
- hugs all around
- teeth somehow get brushed
- both children disappear while Mom cleans toothpaste off the sink (husband has complained abt said issue recently), and suddenly there's crying heard from the other room
- post-interrogation reports indicate male child hit female child, but only after she poked him in the eye
- Mom lectures male child on not hitting, lectures female child about LEAVING HER BROTHER ALONE after multiple incidents this evening
- Bedtime prayers are skipped, Mom considers this a "risk reduction decision"
- after Mom told him to put the Leapster away & there were more tears, she concedes to let him play Leapster in his bed for 10 minutes, because she's had it for one day
- one bed gets made
- She's in bed
- Timer goes off, Mom retrieves Leapster
- Goodnight
PLEASE, OH PLEASE, I hope the TV never breaks! Counter to public opinion we have conclusive evidence that it is to the benefit and welfare of the children if they are parked in front of the TV, mesmerized, not moving. IT IS SIMPLY SAFER FOR EVERYONE. ;)
P.S. Husband comes home and claims this only happens when he leaves the house.
