Thursday, June 2, 2011

Three Things Thursday - Bye Bye Boob Tube

1. Steve removed all three of the cable/DVR boxes yesterday and returned them to Comcast.
First off...I have some dusting to do...

and
2...this leads us into another summer without TV so we can spend more evenings doing things like this...



or...

3...Cuddling around together to read to each other from a new old book that Grammy brought us at her last visit.

I totally remember reading this book as a child - The Happy Hollisters. Good bye to the kids sneaking around trying to watch Family Guy and hello to the return of childhood innocence.
Last year I was a little worried about taking the TVs away...what would I do when I needed some "me" time or what would we do with the kids when we were working (we work from home) and how would the kids even handle it? Within ONE STINKING DAY, they were OVER IT!. Legos, books, playing in the back yard, board games...they had no trouble finding stuff to do. It was glorious...but then Football season started and the cable/DVR returned for the winter. We're working on a way to not have that happen this year.

So how 'bout your family ~Do your kids watch more or less TV in the summer?

21 comments:

KovasP said...

We minimize it in general, so it's pretty consistent year round. During summer we try to get them outside as much as possible.

Rene' said...

definitely less time in the summer. we spend so much time outside that the kids really don't even turn it on. we definitely would need it during football season. i don't think that the boys could do without it.

Unknown said...

Wow! Then you brought it back last fall. Amazing...I can't imagine the angst that would happen at my house if we did this.

Kate Geisen said...

We don't totally take it out (forget the kids...my husband would rebel!), but my 7 year old isn't allowed to watch TV/play video games until school hours are over...and then we're usually at the pool. This is as much for me (too easy to just let him watch all day) as for him. I thought it would be hard, but setting that limit makes it easier. He knows it's not an option, so there's no drama over it.

Finallyfit2011 said...

That's awesome! We are going to do the same thing - I believe in the Fall!!!

Teamarcia said...

Good for you! Summer TV sux anyway. We definitely watch less in summer and spend lots more time outside. Love it!

Anonymous said...

We haven't had cable in YEARS! Besides we can get videos from library or use Hulu.com

Nelly said...

pretty impressive that you were able to get rid of the cable boxes! I mainly would miss sports - football season for sure. Right now there really isn't much of anything on TV, so I could live without it now.

Awesome on running for national running day! Seems like you are really doing great right now in terms of workouts.

Thanks for the comment about you being injured - it has been an adjustment to doing different things, but I have tried to stay active. Cardio has been a little harder now, but I still do the rehab exercises and strength training exercises. I've been swimming a lot more now.

Penny said...

We watch less TV, but I am not strong enough to take it out. Probably more so me. I hate to admit it but I love my reality tv. My favorite is SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. It just start last night.

Aimee said...

TV time is pretty minimal for my boys. But, there are some days I admit, when they watch too much of it when I have a billion phone calls to make and I need them to just be still and quite for awhile. But, they love playing outside, doing art projects, and playing with toys in general, so it's not a big deal for them not to have tv.

ajh said...

I say I don't watch tv. (I don't) but I certainly watch DVDs on my computer. Truthfully most of them I watch while stretching and I can so justify this.

What a gift you are giving your kids.

ajh said...

Which book are you looking for? Heartsick (gory and graphic but entertaining) or Safe. Just curious.

Jill said...

My kids don't watch at much in the summer as they do when they "veg out" after school, but I'd kinda be lost without the History Channel and HGTV ;).

Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Will Travel said...

We got rid of cable a few years ago, mostly to save a little money while I was still in grad school. Neither of us missed it at all, and when there was the occasional show or game that we wanted to see, we just watched at a friend's or at my parents.

Last fall, we switched to Fios and they told us that it would actual be cheaper to have cable than not because of their packages. Turned out to be a total scam (shocking, I know), but we're actually only paying about $10 more a month now than when we didn't have it, and we still don't watch it very much.

Hope the experiment goes well!

Ransick said...

No TV sounds good but there is still a little more than a week of hockey season to go. I only watch the playoffs of most sports (not basketball). I am a football nut too. One solution for football season is to build a man cave and only put a tv and receiver in there, only to be watched for "important" sporting events.

Just trying to help...... Your husband can start sending me Christmas cards this year :-)

Simply Life said...

there's something so magical about reading a book - I've loved it since I was young and had to be read to!

Jim ... 50after40 said...

We've never operated without a tv, but I've often thought it would be a good thing. Good for you guys!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I am impressed, though I rarely watch live tv, everything is DVR'd cuz of the summer

ComcastCares1 said...

If you decide to come back as one of our customers, please feel free to contact my team. We are here to help! :)

Mark Casem
Comcast Corp.
National Customer Operations
We_can_help@cable.comcast.com

Amanda@runninghood said...

We try to keep it to very little but it has slowly been increasing as I get more and more tired. I think maybe more in the summer but not sure...things have gotten way different since having three and staying home. GREAT topic and I'd love to revisit this. Maybe at our mom running group we can come up with some non-t.v inspiring things to help us moms out who resort to it for easy help. ha ha. HEy, have a great workout this weekend...sorry got the wrong date for your big event!! Thanks for you Julie!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Wait a minute! No cable or NO TV at all...all summer long?!?!

If it is the latter, I am in complete AWE of your family! My children would literally duct tape me to the floor, steal my credit card and have tvs and boxes returned within the week!

Let alone my husband's inability to watch financial news while he looks up financial news while he emails about financial news.

I wish I were this brave.