The Mindful Homeschool

Well, it didn’t really happen, but I tried really hard.  I tried to give up the computer and the TV and I was relatively successful.  I did find myself sneaking a peek at my email in the morning.  I tried to avoid doing that.  And I googled the poem “This little piggy goes to the market” after H asked me why the last little piggy cried!  I didn’t find an answer but I did find lots of other interesting websites.  ahem.  

I told the kids that they were not allowed to watch any TV or play on the computer but I found out later that the two oldest children logged on to Webkins briefly when I wasn’t looking.  By 3 pm I was on the verge of a headache and oh, it would have been so easy to give up.  But I persevered.  We worked on making Valentines and got a lot done.  Relatively speaking.  And it helped me the next day because the kids didn’t expect to watch TV right upon waking up. 

I told H that I wanted him to sit on the potty at least once before he could watch his morning TV show.  He lay down and cried upon hearing that.  But after a little while he agreed to try sitting on the toilet.  We went to the bathroom and I showed him what he needed to do and then … he did it!  He was so proud of himself.  After that, he spent the next 2 hours sitting on the toilet, wiping himself, flushing, washing his hands, or bathing (after messier outputs) and drinking water so he could go AGAIN!

It goes without saying that going TV/computer-free is hard work and I would have a hard time doing it everyday but … one day a week seems doable.  Baby steps.  My family and I learn a lot from PBS shows and TV can be very entertaining.  Last night all five of us watched a wonderful ballroom dancing show that had all three kids inspired to twirl around the room together.  It was a true family moment when we were all focused on the same thing, living in the same moment, together as a family.  It is those times when I am grateful for TV.  And of course, the computer is also another wonderful tool for learning, inspiration and entertainment. 

The problems happen when we start using these tools too much at the expense of being there with our loved ones.  It’s a problem when it shuts out our loved ones and closes us off to the world.  I know I have a long ways to go toward finding balance in this modern world.  I can get so absorbed in my emails and the blogosphere that I start neglecting my family and my own real-life moments.  I think going tech-free on Tuesdays could help me and my family appreciate technology’s role a lot more and help bring more clarity into our use of it.  At least it is worth a try.