OK, so I am officially a failure (again!)...I have finally given in! My kids are officially TV watchers! Uggghh...I HATE to say that. I have been ADAMANT about the fact that I do not want my kids watching ANY TV until they turn 2. Others have told me that I should lighten up but that is what the doctor recommends. That is what the "experts"recommend. So that is what I was going to do! Period! Exclamation mark! No exceptions!
Well...that was before my kids turned 20 months and decided they needed my attention EVERY second of EVERY minute that I am around them...especially around dinner time when they start to get hungry and tired. I can't get up to go to the bathroom without them FREAKING out! So...in order to get dinner made at night, I have decided that Dora (or Do-A as the kids scream whenever she comes on the TV) will grace our presence for up to 30 minutes so that I can get dinner ready. (Why Dora? They have a Dora book that they LOVE and the first time I turned it on the TV they were very excited to see her move around. They even climbed up behind the TV to see where she was coming from... have to admit..that was VERY cute!)
Ugghh...did I mention that I am a failure. I hate that I am "that mom" that parks her kids in front of the TV so that I can get something accomplished. I would have judged a mom that does that a few months ago. I wasn't going to be that mom. I was going to calmly teach my children that they need to find things (books, educational games, push-ups..whatever) to occupy their time while Mommy makes dinner. So...I tried that. For weeks. And guess what...it wasn't working and I was going crazy. But guess what did work...Do-A! Do-A! D0-AAAAA!
So, I conceded...Yuck!
The good thing is...after about 5-10 minutes, they usually turn the TV off themselves, say "all-done" and find something else to play with. I think they just need a few minutes to focus on something other than me and then they are fine and can go back to playing on their own.
So...judge me as you wish...I would be judging me if I were you...but I have come to terms with my failure...
Hi, My name is Tricia and my kids are TV watchers!!
I felt the exact same way at first, Tricia. But then I realized that there are a lot of quality, educational programs out there that expose Samantha to some things that are great, e.g. tolerance themes (Little Bill on Nick Jr.), and lots of musical genres (Jack's Big Music Show on Nick Jr.), just to name a couple. In limited doses they provide the perfect "transitional" activity for Samantha while getting ready for dinner or otherwise! Don't beat yourself up -- you are a great mama!
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