While we haven't had cable since we moved to this house in 2009, we certainly have done our share of TV watching. So we started watching TV in the fall last year, 90210, American Idol, and CSI: Miami being on the top of our list---highlighted by random viewings of feel-good reality shows like Undercover Boss and Secret Millionaire. I wouldn't say we were TV obsessed, but we definitely had a schedule. Over time our interest for CSI: Miami waned (accentuated by our complete lack of a DVR or other reliable TV recording capable machine---go ahead and make fun of us now.) We watched 90210 online in spurts, and while we mostly committed to American Idol tryouts, our watching of the actual show was well below 50%---never including results shows.
And so it occurred to me early this spring that we had, in fact, given up TV entirely. Does that mean that my kids have? No. Does that meant that I can't hear PBS in the background while I type this? No. They watch TV here and there and especially during breakfast, but as for Taylor and me, we're over it.
Is this part of growing up? Part of being 30? Granted we are super busy with church callings and work and other stuff, so maybe that's part of it. And honestly I think a huge part of it is that we don't have a comfortable couch. Our couch is definitely not the type of couch that beckons you, "Come, sit! Watch TV for hours! Bring a snack!" It's one of those "maybe the floor is more comfortable" couches. I could change it, and I could get cable---but both of those definitely cost more than $10, so I guess we're stuck for a while.We do have TV in our bedroom where there is both a comfortable bed and comfortable couch, and sometimes we watch DVDs there. And once every 2-3 months I realize that Days of Our Lives is on while I'm folding laundry, so I watch a few segments to catch up on the plot. And we'll probably watch a few episodes of American Idol next winter.
We haven't thrown the TV out.We're not about to do that, but we do have a more-relaxed schedule now. (Well, I did until Pinterest came along!) We read at night, and I sew. Taylor plays video games, and I scrapbook. We have meetings 2-4 nights a week, so that keeps us busy. I love that we don't have to catch up on episodes and therefore miss sleep. I love that we don't have to hide what we watch from our kids. I love that we're not constantly worried if the VCR (yes, we're that fancy) is recording our shows or if we have blank tapes that work. Taylor doesn't love it as much as I do---he wistfully watches each Comcast van that passes our house. I guess he misses the sports that cable offers---but our friends and family have those channels, so it's not a total loss.
And I guess Marisa really isn't that crazy. Or maybe I've just joined her? Giving up TV was certainly not something I had planned on or ever even consciously tried to do---it just happened. And I'm glad. I just wish it could happen that easily with weight loss!
We've been gradually giving it up too -- Greg more so than me. (It's that home all day thing that messes me up). There's no prime time shows Greg follows anymore at all (and the only ones I follow are on hulu, that I watch while I fold laundry during the day). I still will turn it on to drown out the sound of the kids crying, "But I'm not TIRED yet!" from their rooms, but it really comes down to nothing being on, and Greg just has a book open anyway (when he's not at meetings 2-4 nights a week, of course). We have basic cable, which we've talked about giving up, but then all we have is prime time network TV, and man, that seems to be getting sleazier by the season! :-) So, we watch "Pawn Stars" sometimes before bed, but for the most part, our TV days seem to be behind us. Weird. We must be getting old too :-)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I also very rarely watch TV. For a lot of the reasons you mentioned in your post. The only show we "follow" is The Office. And we don't watch that nearly as much as we used to. We used to watch it each Thursday night, but as my boys got older and started picking up on the storyline and asking questions, we decided it probably wasn't a good idea to watch it with them. For a while we tried to rush to get them in bed before it started, but that only stressed all of us out. Now we watch it when we can and if we can't we try to catch it on Hulu. (We don't have DVR or anything like that either.) I actually love that we don't watch TV that often. There are plenty of other things to do. My kids, however, sound a lot like yours. There's a fair share of PBS going on at our house :)
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the words you are saying... ;)
ReplyDeleteWe are going to antennae today. I'm looking forward to that!
So much self-control. I love it!! Way to be so dedicated.
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