If you don't watch TV and you are sick?

[hipumpkins]

DD does not watch any regular TV. We do have movie night twice a week where she gets to watch a movie and we make pop corn and make a family event of it. DD generally talk through the whole movie anyway.
Anyway, yesterday I was pretty sick (throwing up, fever you know all the good stuff) I also have a baby to take care of so yesterday I gave in and DD watched movies ALL DAY! 3 movies actaully one right after the other. I know I did what I had to do for my sanity but I was wondering what do you do when you are sick if you don't watch TV at all? I felt very guilty even as she was watching but I couldn't think of anything else to keep her soemwhat more occupied.

[lilyka]

My children don't watch TV during the week (they get a efw cartons on saturday morning) but when I am sick all bets are off. we make some popcorn, grab some quiet toys and put in a steady stream ov videos and cartoons. Absolutely no guilt. this is what we are saving it for.

[phathui5]

- Send them out back (we have a fenced in yard)
- Tell them to go build with Legos
- Tell them to go do art (they have a big bin or art stuff)

Just generally giving them an idea and saying, "Go."

[flapjack]

Don't feel guilty. Watching TV may not be the most stimulating of activities, but they're quiet, safe and supervised.

[Llyra]

I am the most avid anti-TV parent out there, but if I got sick and couldn't cope I wouldn't hesitate to take the TV out of storage and let DD watch. No reason to feel guilty at all.

[velochic]

If I were really THAT anti-TV, I'd hire someone or ask a friend, neighbor, family member to come help. Dd doesn't watch ANY television, but she does ask for a video occasionally. She really doesn't *enjoy* watching kids videos, but loves old musicals (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Sound of Music). But to let my kid watch TV all day once a year, would personally not compromise my own ethics of parenting. Letting her do that regularly would.

[meowmix]

We have a movie night every other week. If I was sick... we would probably do a movie time during the day and skip the movie night. then I wouldn't compromise my TV only twice a month deal.

I would also lay on the couch in the playroom while they played. Given them a bath midday (all I have to do is sit there and watch them. heh). I should probably have stickers and stuff onhand for those sick days so I can get out a relatively mess free project like stickers and paper to have fun with. Send them outside in the backyard and maybe given them free reign over garden tools, dirt, gladware and water.

And I beg my husband to come home early and I dont clean much. and the kids graze all day rather than me fixing meals for breakfast lunch and dinner.

[LovemyBoo]

If it's bad parenting then make room for me on the "naughty mommy mat". It's only happened a handful of times but I have had my "you can watch as much tv as you want, you can eat whatever you want, you can play as many computer games as you want, just let me die in peace" days. I don't regret them nor feel guilty about it. A day or so later we are usually almost if not completely back on track.

FWIW I'm not anti-tv, we limit but do not forbid tv-watching.

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by LovemyBoo

"you can watch as much tv as you want, you can eat whatever you want, you can play as many computer games as you want, just let me die in peace" days..

[FitMama]

Wow OP, you and I had the same weekend, I guess. I had the fever, vomiting etc on Sunday. I took the baby to bed and left poor DH with our 2.5 yo. But DH is also getting sick and DS is just getting over it. So the TV was on practically all day.

For just this one time, I think it's okay.