OK, I am getting tired of having to explain to folks why we got rid of our TV. The MAIN reason was for the health and well being of our children. Since we got rid of the TV, I have noticed the following behavior changes:

1. They play together more frequently and are able to stay occupied with creative activity longer.
2. They are calmer.
3. They are more interested in music, learning, EXERCISE.

I am sure my wife could expound on this more than I could but the fact is that the change has been welcome FOR ALL OF US. Also, with parenting, there is a significant temptation to give in to using the TV as a babysitter. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON SO MANY LEVELS. Some parents get to the point where pulling their TV away is so painful that they protect it like they do their own children. I know. I felt this way. However *I* want to raise my kids. I don't want the head honchos at PBS raising my kids.

The increase in attention span should be enough justification for such a wild and crazy move but it isn't. I mentioned this to a group of friends yesterday and it was like I sawed off an arm. Giving up TV shouldn't be such a radical thing. Its not like I am giving up food or water. I am exchanging TV time for more time with my family, more time to read, more time to blog and more time to engage my brain. I need that. Watching TV is like eating candy. If you do it too much your brain gets sick. If you rid candy from your diet entirely it is a very GOOD and healthy thing. If you rid TV from your diet entirely ... well ... you get the point.

Its not radical folks ... later I might even post some anti-TV rants to further justify this choice.

TTLB Ecosystem downgrade

I notice I have been downgraded to a Flippery Fish again. Oh well, my Slithering Reptile days were glorious. I stopped regularly posting for weeks on end and my blog got MORE popular. Maybe I should take that as a sign? Update: GOOD GRIEF ... In a matter of hours I was downgraded to a Slimy Mollusc. Must have been the TV rant.