We backed off on the TV watching sometime last year.
For a long time, I was really good about no TV in the morning and on school nights. Canceling the cable made it a little bit easier.
Then I got my iPad and then eventually Number 3 and 4 got Kindles.
We still had Netflix, and it wasn’t long before that was downloaded onto all those devices.
And then, when things started to get really busy and Number 5 decided to start waking up ridiculously early, I would give her my iPad in the morning to play games in order to keep her out of my hair and to also keep her from waking everyone else up.
The games inevitably led to Netflix.
And then Number 6 started waking up early.
So I’d track down one of the Kindles to give to him to keep him occupied.
That worked great for a while.
But Number 3 and 4 weren’t so psyched to share their Kindles.
Or one would be lost or not charged or whatever.
It didn’t take long for Number 5 and 6 to basically race down the stairs to see who could get to the iPad first.
And then, at 6:30 am (or earlier) we’d have our first round of screaming fits over who got to play on the fucking iPad.
My strategy to keep the kids quiet and occupied had officially backfired.
Number 6 broke my iPad charger a while ago, and we’ve been using my iPod charger for it.
My iPod charger has now been missing for two days, and the iPad has been out of batteries since yesterday morning.
So today, the sprint to the iPad was fruitless.
I told Number 5 she’d have to do something else.
There were some tears, and then, rather than trying to sneak in a couple more minutes for myself, I just got breakfast ready.
After the kids were done eating, I told Number 3 and 4 to go upstairs and get ready for school.
Ten minutes later I went to their room to ask them a question and they were each on their beds and still in their pajamas .
Number 4 was watching Lab Rats on her Kindle, and Number 3 was playing Crossy Road.
I wanted to run those fucking Kindles over with my car.
So I took them away, and I declared that all electronics were now off limits until the weekend.
They both looked at me like I had just told them we were moving to Mars.
I thought Number 6 was going to throw the biggest fit over this new rule. He’s kind of addicted to Minecraft.
But he handled it surprisingly well.
In fact, all the kids did.
Not at first though.
At first, they thought I was kidding.
Number 2 had his phone in the playroom after dinner and they were listening to music on it. I told him he had to put it away.
And he said, “What can we do, then?”
Oh. Boy.
“Mom! How can we listen to music without the phone?”
Whoah.
I told Number 4 about this old fashioned contraption called the fucking radio, and then I left the room.
I think that’s when everyone realized that Mom wasn’t screwing around, and no matter how good they were, no one was getting their shit back any time soon.
And you know what happened?
They asked if they could draw.
And they all cooperated.
Not so they could earn something back. Just because, well, I don’t know. I guess because that is more enjoyable than arguing and screaming at each other.
(Yes, Number 4 was on the computer. But that’s because she had to do her IXL homework).
I know they are still going to be douchey. That seriously restricting the electronics isn’t guaranteeing eutopia in this house.
But there was a big difference in behavior today. There was a whole lot less arguing than there was yesterday.
And there was eye contact and interaction and no one in hysterics because someone killed their stupid Minecraft dog.
Don’t get me wrong. There were still kids crying. But the reasons were much less annoying.
Maybe it’s coincidence.
But I don’t think so.
I think all these conveniences are dangerous.
They help in the short run.
But in the long run, I think they might create more problems than they solve.
And there’s nothing convenient about that.
Thank you for making me Number 1!
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I totally agree. For a long time I very rarely let the kids (6 &4) play electronics. Then I started letting them use them more and more. (Keeping them occupied during a dr’s appointment so I could talk to the Dr, etc,) Then the fighting started and the whining and the I can’t do this or that. We are now back to very limited electronic devices and things are so much calmer now. The first Dr’s appointment without a device they were shocked with what they could do. I handed them a notebook and a pencil and told them to draw what they saw. Sooooo much more peaceful.
My son just turned two. We don’t allow television and he’s never been exposed to an iPad, computer, etc. Recently he started to watch 1950s Mickey Mouse Club 2 minute clips on our phones. I think it’s a mistake – from moment one, he was “addicted”- asking to play it over and over. (He’s limited to 2 plays). It’s crazy how technology has changed since we were kids. Your post reinforced my notions to keep my kids away from this stuff for as long as possible!
The best mornings in our house are the ones without any electronics…less fighting, not running late, it is calm and quiet.
This is what we need in our house, no electronics during the week. We don`t use it in the morning but both my kids like a TV show after dinner… We have board game nights and those are always fun, need to do those more often as well…
Good post thanks
I have a hard time with this. We were doing well with no shows in the morning on our phones for a long time. We don’t have a tv. But my darlings (2&4) are up before 6 most days. So, I give in. It won’t always be like this but for now it is. Sometimes I feel guilty sometimes I dont. It’s the way life is now.
I have been without internet except whats on my phone,and without cable for over two years. I am a single mom of two girls 8 and 5 and heck no they don’t have i pads,tablets or anything electronic at all they don’t question it because they are used to it being they never had them. They actually do things like I did when i was a kid like play outside,playdough ,color and every Friday we have at home movie night where we watch a movie before bed. I am in no hurry for them to grow up and realize all there friends have the newest i something.