Guests in your home - Page 2

[redhotmama]

I think tv can be like an addiction, and there is a significant detox period for people. I've noticed that when my mom visits us. She gripes and moans, but by the end of the visit she is reading and playing games with the kids alot, and happy too

[suziek]

My parents watch a lot of television--they are real news junkies--but when they come to see us they always talk about how great it is that we don't have a tv.

They sometimes gripe and tease, but they actually love the level of interaction and conversation here.

We live overseas so when they and others come it is usually for 3 weeks or a month. Guest usually end up reading in the evenings after the kids go to bed or talking all evening, just like dh and I do.

My mother once said coming here is like going to a spa. Our 4dcs were all under 8 at the time! I can't really imagine what she meant--it is very noisy here--maybe that real children, real people, real coversation and real books were satisfying in a way television can never be.

[cece]

I guess I'm feeling a little snarky today too, but I have guests who are addicted to cigarettes but that doesn't mean I let them smoke in my house. Just my .02 24/7 news broadcasts are equally toxic to my child, in my opinion.

My suggestion? Pat yourself on the back for making them take a break from the incessant demands that television puts on a person. Remind yourself that no one ever said "Hey, remember what a great time we had watching that Friends re run together?"

[chinaKat]

I was just thinking that I would never even notice if somebody didn't have a TV when I visited them... but when I have to go a week without Internet I do get a little antsy and start to wonder why my host refuses to join the 21st century. (I'd never actually voice that to my host, though!)

I guess everybody has their vices.

[LeslieB]

I think people do start to get a little bored when they visit us without a TV, but they really seem to find other things to do instead. And it gets them out of the house to sightsee, go for walks, whatever. Sometimes, we will watch a DVD if everyone is in the mood for a movie, though.

[kananaskismama]

We have a television (it is huge and dominates our living room ) but it is never on during the day when the kids are awake.

The other night my mom was over and she wanted to watch a sporting event that was on while we ate dinner. She turned on the tv and turned up the volume. DD and DS ran to the screen and were transfixed!! DH came to the rescue and said no television during supper. My mom said that I loved tv and commercials when I was little. She was visibly annoyed.

My mom has the tv on in her house 24/7. It serves as background noise while she works on her computer and listens to music! It's sensory overload.

After her visit DH and I discussed moving the television where it is in a less obvious location. That way there will not be any temptation to turn it on when visitors are over.

[Arwyn]

Originally Posted by cece

Remind yourself that no one ever said "Hey, remember what a great time we had watching that Friends re run together?"

That's not actually true: I have heard nearly that exact phrase come out of people's mouths. And when it is a communal, deliberate event, watching TV together can be fun, and create lasting fond memories. I just find that it DOESN'T, most of the time, and that other things in life are much more likely to.

[cancat]

Originally Posted by kananaskismama

We have a television (it is huge and dominates our living room ) but it is never on during the day when the kids are awake.

The other night my mom was over and she wanted to watch a sporting event that was on while we ate dinner. She turned on the tv and turned up the volume. DD and DS ran to the screen and were transfixed!! DH came to the rescue and said no television during supper. My mom said that I loved tv and commercials when I was little. She was visibly annoyed.

My mom has the tv on in her house 24/7. It serves as background noise while she works on her computer and listens to music! It's sensory overload.

After her visit DH and I discussed moving the television where it is in a less obvious location. That way there will not be any temptation to turn it on when visitors are over.

hmm...are you a long lost sister

[kananaskismama]

Originally Posted by cancat

hmm...are you a long lost sister

I would love a long lost sister! Is your family the same as ours?
My mom is constantly challenging my parenting choices - it's a battle. On a positive note we went for dinner to her place this evening and she only had some background music on - no television!

[phathui5]

I can't imagine being a guest at someone's house and watching TV, or the opposite, having guests over and watching TV. When we have company, we eat, talk, play cards, walk to the snowball stand, play board games...

[captivatedlife]

I know I have gone over to visit with my mother many times and I could not talk to her because her shows were on. I have asked to turn the tv down, turned it off at a commercial(ok, rude, I k now, but still!) and on, but she won't let go.

Some people want TV. In my home we have the computer for watching DVD's and internet. It'll be hard, but it's life.

[cece]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

That's not actually true: I have heard nearly that exact phrase come out of people's mouths. And when it is a communal, deliberate event, watching TV together can be fun, and create lasting fond memories. I just find that it DOESN'T, most of the time, and that other things in life are much more likely to.

Well, if you're going to get all technical on me , yes you are right. I guess I'm just trying to highlight the positivity to the visit. Still doesn't have anywhere near the same effect as "Remember when we were sitting around the campfire..."

I just had a visit from my MIL who said she feels she is addicted to television and is going to try to cut back when she got home, she noticed a big difference when she visited and didn't watch any .