Rainy Saturday

Apparently April 20 - 24 is TV Turn Off Week. I saw it on posters at S's school all this week when I dropped off and picked up. We even got a paper our family had the option to sign saying we would commit to turning off our TVs and doing something else. So, what are my kids doing this rainy Saturday afternoon? They're downstairs, watching their second movie of the day. Let me explain. I am not anti-establishment. I am all on board for most of the school activities. Science Fair optional for my first grader? No, I think we'll do that.

Extra library research on the Core Knowledge weekly topic? Let's do that too. Attend the (insert activity here) Shakespearean Festival, Core Knowledge Fair, goofy Faculty Talent Show? Let's go! Turn off the TV for the whole week? Well...we usually do that. No TV during the week and usually not weekends. It's my last resort on Fridays and Saturdays when the boredom hits and the fighting sets in. We will (insert activity here) go to the grocery store, play outside, read books, hit a museum or two, even get crafty (which is odd for me) before we stick a movie in. So, why this rebellion against the school's attempt to unplug our family? Here's the profound answer: I don't know. I really don't care. It's that simple. I think the class with the most commitments gets some kind of prize. Yeah, I don't really care. The few hours on Saturday when the kids are watching a movie -- not fighting, not bugging me for food, not making a huge mess of the playroom -- are mine. I love my monkeys dearly, but I really don't get breaks from them during the week. I am trying to love all the precious moments I have with them and really treasure them, because I know, soon enough, they will all be in school, off to play with friends, on their missions, out of the house, but in order for me to love my time with them, I need the TV to babysit for just a fraction of the day on the weekends. That is all. Sorry, Reagan Academy. I think I do pretty well to not let them watch TV during the week. Cut me some slack.