(More than) Fourinarow.net

A few years ago, when my children were pretty small (and some non-existent), we didn’t watch a lot of TV.  Virtually none.  We didn’t have cable and our biggest TV was a boxy 19-incher.  I think.  It might have even been a 13-incher.

Before having any children, I guess I watched some TV.  And, when Jack was just a baby and I was nursing and then Maria came and I was nursing, (and home all day) I watched some more..  However, as soon as Jack was old enough to show any interest in it, I turned it off.  I did not want my kids to watch a bunch of TV – especially the news or Law & Order SUV or Oprah (who these days belongs on a nut train with Michael Jackson and Tom Cruise.)

Then… I moved to Clarksville and met some new friends.  Like Kristina.  (Names have been crossed out to shame the culprits.)  This dear friend of mine told me all about the magic of Noggin.  A kids channel that had educational shows and no commercials.  Her kids LOVED it and mine would, too.

Around the same time, Dan commented several times that he didn’t think our children watched TV enough.  Read that again.  Go ahead.  Seriously.  There are NO typos.  They didn’t watch enough TV.  I guess he thought that if other kids were talking about Dora and Diego, ours should, too.  Hmmm.  I was doubtful, but Kristina holds a PhD in child psychology.  Surely she wouldn’t lead me down the wrong path?

So that year, with Kristina as our cheerleader, our downfall began.  We ordered a cable subscription and, soon after, for Dan’s birthday I bought him a big screen TV.  I discovered that there were a lot of children’s channels.  And movies!  And, I discovered, some children will sit mesmerized for HOURS in front of a TV screen.  Great when you want to get something done.  (Not so great when you want them to get something done.  But whatever.)

Our family has never been the same again.

Last week, when we were visiting the in-laws, my sister-in-law and I hit Target early on Black Friday for a little bit of shopping.

This is what I came home with:

Hey.  They were only $5.98 each.  And, this is 10 hours of quiet time for me.

*Credit to Maddog for the title

**Poor Kristina… she wasn’t the only bad influence.  You people know who you are.