VE HAF A SCHEDULE! - A Response to "TV Time"

Did y'all get to read Saf's post with the results of our TV Time poll? Here's the thing. My kid is a junkie. Some people have addictive personalities and some don't. Then there are also those of us that can go months blissfully without a glass of wine but won't sleep a wink knowing they're in a house that's void of caffeine. (I like to comfort myself with this. Maybe television is the only addiction our daughter will ever wrestle? Stupid fingers crossed.) TV changes my daughter the way booze can make your favourite person transform into a two-headed monster. Gradually her colour goes, her brow furrows, she barks for snacks like Cruella Deville and can no longer support her own body weight - even when she's trying with all four limbs. It seemed cruel not to give her a TV schedule. We figured with firmly established parameters, TV time wouldn't have quite the same charge and would keep us out of that place of constant negotiation. How about TV every other day? Sounded like a reasonable plan at first, but it turned out each day became defined by whether or not she'd be plugged in. On her non-TV days it was like she was living for the next day knowing she'd finally get her fix. The obsession factor was going nowhere. Thankfully, she was young enough at the time that we got away with revamping the system without her realizing she was being duped. We decided to do something that may seem a little radical to some - TV only on the weekends. You may argue that rationing television exposure is only going to make kids want it more. And you may be right. For Saf and I, our childhood television was carefully rationed. We even had periods of not owning one. How did this affect us? Well... both Saf and I are completely, ridiculously, rattled by watching onscreen violence. And when I say violence, I mean yer basic fist fight. We've got it so bad that unless we're willing to risk a lame-ass sleep of nightmares, us Henderson sisters are almost completely limited to Jennifer Aniston and Will Ferrell movies. My theory is Saf and I weren't appropriately desensitized. We're still working on the cultural catch up. (Next we'll have to post about how being raised in a tee-pee has affected our table manners...) When I was finally free to make my own decisions about TV, I was terrified that I'd have no self control. I was certain I'd give myself over to any talk show/game show/soap opera out there, never leave the couch and inevitably lose grip on life altogether. I begged room-mates to keep our communal house TV free and then eventually losing that battle, rallied to at least pass on cable. Once faced with All Access Exposure, I actually kinda surprised myself with the ability to keep a grip. Does this mean I'm someone who chooses to watch only quality television? Are you kidding?? I couldn't stand to hear about Bret Michaels' Celebrity Apprentice Win second hand! So yes, Ve Haf A Schedule. But don't get me wrong. Rules are meant to be broken, after all. These days it's not uncommon for us to have a hockey game going during the week or to watch the occasional nature program over dinner. The beautiful thing is that our little junkie's so freakin' hungry for the boob-tube that she's just as mesmerized by the lost puck and flying squirrels as we are!

TV Time

Remember the poll about how much tv you let your kids watch?  Les Results:

37% let their children watch up to half an hour per day 
12% say an hour's alright
25% are allowing up to 2 hours
37% voted "Ve Haf a Schedule!"
0% were cool with 2-4 hours or unlimited access.  

Looks like most (or at least those willing to vote) are pretty sparing with the tube but I must say, personally, it is one fantastic reward/consequence tool.   I fall in the "up to 2 hours" category.   Go ahead, judge me.  There are days of even more than that, and days with none or little.  2 hours fly by on a Saturday morning while you're doing your toes, sipping diet coke and reading People while chatting on the phone.  Or cleaning up barf and looking up your horoscope while scrounging for Easter chocolate, as the case may be.

Yes I've read all the horrible things tv does to children (eg. childhood obesity, violence and branding),  and also some good advice about how to handle the spiritual vaccum that television can be.  I take heart that my kids enjoy Word World as much as Star Wars.

We currently allow some morning for those who stay in bed all night.  And if both of them stay out of ours, they get breakfast while they watch!!   Bribery, yes, but Daddy and I are luxuriating in more time and space without feet in our face, and we pay in permissiveness.   Like potty training with candies as a reward, I'm hoping the expectation of morning tv will fade into the background as they master sleeping in their own room.

On the other hand, there seems to be nothing (except canceled playdates) as devastating as hearing there will be no tv for the next 24 hours or even whole week.   The truth is that Mr The King is actually quite a fine kid without it---a slight nuisance,  but once he's pulled out every toy and game he owns and costumed himself in a hard hat, my nightshirt, a toolbelt, swimgoggles and rainboots to dance to his little brother's MJ playlist, he's been a happy, creative and engaged child.   Much as I'd hate losing the Me Time that them watching tv provides,  if ours goes on the blink I'm gonna replace it reeeeeeeeeeaal slow.....

I invite you to comment and to elaborate on how you manage your child's tv time...and Camille, I invite you to post your perspective.   How did you vote?

Another Winner!

Here it is....drew it on random.org again and this time our lucky number is...................wait for it....here it comes:

Numero.....

Janet, get your Chilliwack Tshirt on, you're headed to the River Rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Again, thank you everyone for your wonderful comments....we can't stand not giving everyone tickets after that show of affection and devotion.  If we somehow get access to more, you're going to hear about it!

Camille and Saf

We Have a Winner!

Please Note:  There's a second draw happening!  Click HERE to enter!


First of all, thank you for participating, people!  Nice comments.  Nice enough to make us wish we had tickets for every single one of you.  Hope that most of you will still get to the concert because it is going to be a great experience.  At least it will be for us-- we've been rehearsing our butts off.   

So....went to random.org to draw a number and ta-da, the big winner is Comment number....drumroll.......wait for it.....comment numberrrr........

Jeanne F , get your hair did,  you're going to the River Rock for the
                       CHILLIWACK 40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, and hope you guys enjoy your date night!  We'll contact you privately with all the secret details for Saturday night's show.  


Everybody else, thank you so much for your comments--it was a thrill to read your thoughts and stories and I think it will make the band feel pretty tall, too.


Camille and Saf
                                     

Win Date Night with CHILLIWACK!

That's with Chilliwack, not in Chilliwack. 

Rock On.

What's a blog without free stuff?  Whether you have children or don't care for small people, you must admit you need

Date Night.  So we're giving away 2 tickets to Chilliwack's 40th Anniversary Concert at the River Rock Casino for Saturday May 22nd FRIDAY MAY 21st!  THIS IS OUR 2nd GIVEAWAY!!

That's 100.00 value, dudes.  Win the draw, secure the babysitter, and you're in for a great night out!!  

All you need to do is leave a comment below this post that answers our question:

"Who would be your date at the Chilliwack Anniversary Gig and why?" (if you've already commented, you're already entered in the draw for the Friday Night Tickets)

Post your comment before 8 pm, Wednesday May 19th.  To be totally fair, we will draw the winner using random.org.  Winner will be notified & tix will be shipped or left at will-call.

Rules:

1.  One entry per person

2.  No anonymous comments

3.  Entrants must be 19+

4.  Entrants must be able to get to Richmond, BC on their own and be willing to cut us in on any jackpot won before or after the gig.  A couple thou will do it.

Good Luck, Date Nighters!  You're all winners!

Peace,

Saf & Camille

PS-yes, that's our dad's band.  yes, we're shameless dad-promoters.

Ever think your kid ought to love something... because you do?

My daughter is in the The Coolest circus gymnastics program ever. Since I basically tricked her into enrolling twice, she's coming to the end of her second year in this program. What can I say? I thought she'd get hooked! I banked on this extra year for developing deeper bonds with kids (which I was ready to facilitate by hosting as many play-dates as necessary should there be even a glimmer of kiddo chemistry), taking pride in the more elaborate tricks and (fingers crossed) wearing a recital costume that has her begging for another year of fabulousness -It seems costumes trump all other decision making influences. Well, the kiddo chemistry has been remarkably limited, the elaborate tricks just scare the s*#t out of her and the costume... is pending. It being a non-profit organization, I'm not holding a lot of hope. She'll likely be donning yet another recycled, camel-toe inducing leo that peaked in the 80's. No, I won't corner my daughter into another year of this. She's made it pretty clear that that's not gonna fly. Ever think your kid ought to love something... just because you do? If there are any parents out there who've never blurred this line, come forward (onto the chopping block) and let yourself be known. Signed, Defensive Stage Mother

Another Recall...part 2

Thought I'd add this for Canadian users, which I just read on yahoo, written by the Associated Press:

 In Canada, it said Saturday the impact is limited to all lots of children's Motrin and infants' Motrin liquid suspension products and children's Tylenol cough and runny nose liquid suspension only.

The company is recalling the products because some did not meet required quality standards, it said in a statement Friday.

Some of the products recalled may have a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified on the bottle. Others may contain particles, while still others may contain inactive ingredients that do not meet internal testing requirements.

Another Recall...

Yipee, another recall!  This is one that most of us will want to check our cupboards and lot numbers for and it affects Canada and the US, as well as several other countries where these products are distributed.  McNeil Products is recalling liquid infants' and children's Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl, and the notice is dated April 30/2010.   Why, I only just used some berry motrin for The Ducks ear infection...who woulda thunk?  Not sure what "concerns with quality control" are (a phrase I found on a local news feed), but here's a quote from the above site, in case you just had a little freak while reading this:

While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.


 Good luck everybody.  Hope the font on the bottle is readable...
PS--to view the list larger, just click on the link in the post or click on the jpeg below and you can easily zoom