Turn Off the TV

by Jen Mason

“Turn off the TV!”

That’s all it took to change our lives.

Since I uttered—uh, okay, bellowed—those four small words, my two children and I have agreed to cut out watching television and playing Xbox. With much discipline, endurance, pressure, strategizing, begging, and some swearing (under my breath), we are adapting to a new way of life.

It’s hard work keeping my kids from returning to their old ways. I would love to give in and tell them to “Go watch TV.” Why not? The sentence has worked for years—or so I’d thought. Wrong! Without realizing it, I had created my own little “TV junkies.”

I am a single parent with little time left once I have cleaned up after supper, checked backpacks, made lunches, returned phone calls, swept and started a load of laundry. That’s when I’d tell the kids—Connor, 10, and Megan, 8—to turn off the TV and get ready for bed. Does this sound familiar?

At first, this new TV-free committment brought tears, “I hate you’s,” sibling fights, and feet-stomping. But the tantrums didn’t last. And I have survived to say—it can be done.

Since we made this decision, we have gone kayaking for the first time, been swimming and to the park, played Crazy 8s after supper, met new friends in the complex, gardened and have even had time for much-needed baths at the end of the day. Homework has gotten done. Teeth have been brushed. Clothes are making it to the hamper. We have even tried running together. Day by day, we are moving away from our old ways. And the best thing—the kids have been telling me more about their day at school!

My kids are now becoming more aware of their time and contribute to the housework. They take out the recycling, garbage, empty the dishwasher, help me with supper, empty their backpacks and make lunches before bed. My scratchy throat, once sore from having to repeat everything, feels better. We’ve actually created lots of family time by sharing the everyday chores that used to bog me down. Now and then we watch a movie or a favourite show. But now I feel good about what and how much they watch.

The years slip past quickly. Before you know it your child will be looking at you eye-to-eye. Are you still going to be packing those lunches for him or taking his milk glass from the TV to the sink like a zombie from a Scooby Doo movie?

Take the challenge with us. Get the kids off the couch and be a fun fit family!

Jen Mason is a single parent who works in a non-profit. Although she’s no longer watching TV, she does wonder who received the rose on The Bachelor.