Heh, I have no problem watching violence
:LOL We saw Shawn of the Dead the other week (in the theater). I like "fake" violence though. Zombies, yes, realistic torture scenes, no. I used to love X-Files. I was glad it went off the air when it did or I'd be sorely tempted to watch.
Dh and I used to watch Farscape which was pretty violent, scary and sexual at times. They are having a Farscape mini-series next week and we are having it taped for us. It will take us awhile to watch it all because we'll be doing it an episode at a time when the kids are out of the house. I am looking forward to it but at the same time, I'm glad it's just a 4 day mini-series with a definite END to it as opposed to getting sucked into watching something on a regular basis again.
On the do as I say, not as I do, I think it's like alcohol. Ok, I personally don't drink, but I don't think it's a big deal if dh, a man who's done growing, has an occasional beer. It would be a big deal if dd, a 6 year old who is still growing, had an occasional beer (and worse than dd would be the 2 year old ds). Yet it would be a big deal if dh, whatever his age, drank a six pack a day, every day. So for tv, no big deal if adults watch *some* but the younger the child, the more damage it has the potential to do to them. And no matter how old someone is, if they watch 8 hours a day, I think it's a problem. Just my take on it.
I can't imagine getting rid of the tv completely! What a leap of faith Butter
We've found another use for the DVD player though. Dh hooked it up to the stereo so I can play my CDs on it instead of going through his huge 300 CD changer.
Sooooooooooooooooooooo we caved saturday. Dd was sick as a dog and we plugged in the tv and put a video on. The first time in FOUR months she watched tv at home. And then, after it was over, I found myself thinking what the heck *was* I thinking??? :LOL I remembered an article in Mothering (I think?) months ago about how being sick used to be special time with parents, playing games, doing crafts in bed, etc and now it's just being stuck in front of the boob tube. Ok, well, that doesn't hold true for me. When I was sick as a kid it was boob tube time. It just occurred to me how stupid it was. Here we were, four months tv free and HAPPY and she gets sick and I panic and turn it on. What the . . . . ? Why?
So I determined to do better than I had as a child. Yesterday (she was still sick as a dog) we kept it un-plugged and covered (and she didn't ask!). I tried to interest her in crafts (she was really too sick to do any but she enjoyed watching *me* do some next to her). Her dad read to her. She napped. We chatted. I read to her. A LOT
Without interruption (other than me taking pee breaks and getting snacks) I read her favorite chapter book to her (Nim's Island). It took 2 1/2 hours (dh had the 2 year old out at a park). She spent most of the time lying on the couch with her eyes shut or under her pillow but everytime I asked if she wanted to nap she said no, she wanted me to keep reading to her
So needless to say, I feel much better about yesterday's sick day. I feel like I spent more time with my sick child, paying attention to her, instead of just putting on a video.
But then, I could only do this because dh was home. I can see how easy it would have been to turn to tv if he wasn't. I have a 2 year old too, you know? Thankfully, it isn't often that either of my kids is as sick as she was yesterday so I guess it won't be much of an issue. Or next time she's that sick, I could call on a grandma to come take boy-o. But how about the people who don't have extended family to help them? Just thinking aloud here.
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s - it's hard when you feel isolated! Do you have a car? Can you get to a park or playground or library every day or so? I find that exposure to fresh air and sunshine always lifts my spirits.
T: This is how I play my opera DVD's when I'm not watching them. No need to buy the cd when you can get the production and the music in one DVD bundle! 
