A few months ago I felt convicted. The TV had been on so much for the kids. Hours at a time. There have been seasons where I am really good about keeping it off but then there are times that it gets cut on and stays on.. for hours. And thanks to the way certain programs are set up the shows just play on automatically. Then before I know it I'm realizing that it's been on for far too long. Then all the negative thoughts come in about how I am a terrible mother, etc. and I go to bed defeated.
I know the statistics about screen times. I've read the articles and I believe in it all. Our children do not have access to iPads and they have never played with our phones. Not at home, out and about and certainly not at restaurants. I really just never wanted to allow them to do that because it doesn't make sense to me. I didn't have a screen sitting in front of me so I could watch TV at the restaurant when I was little?
When Aubrey was younger, we experienced some very trying times with her. I felt tempted multiple times to just turn mickey mouse on my phone and hand it to her but I didn't see how that would solve a problem. So I was the mom walking through Target with the screaming kid in the cart. I was smiling, but inside I was sweating bullets knowing/believing that everyone was probably judging me and making comments about the crying baby. I NEVER gave in.
About a year ago the Lord spoke to me and said, "Handing your child a phone while in public to occupy them is no form of parenting, you’re only distracting them. They will never know how to behave at a restaurant, how to learn patience while in a grocery store, etc." When he shared this with me I was so thankful for my steadfastness and SO grateful for the nudging he gave me in this area. Never forget, our role as parents is to teach and train not to preoccupy.
I also believe that as parents, when we put our foot down and ask that our children obey certain things and stand firm in that, it teaches them at such a young age the importance of being submissive. As a christian being submissive to the Lord's call and will on our life is a daily action that we have to be intentional with taking.
"So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you. MOVE YOUR HEART closer and closer to God and he will come ever closer to you." -James 4:7-8a
But back to the TV. I decided a few months ago to shut it off. After a conversation with Brandon we agreed, only 1 hour of TV a day, IF that. It has been so peaceful. And that's what he keeps whispering to me in the quiet moments in our day... "If you want a peaceful home cut off the TV." It's those special quiet times that I hear the kids working puzzles together, playing, reading books, etc. Something that I also realized is that they actually play with their toys!
Through out the last few months I've taken some pictures intentionally to share what life looks like without the TV.
Playing princess dress up
Camping in my closet
Picnic lunches in the play room
Digging up a sink hole in Aubrey's bedroom
Taking her puppy on a walk
Playing Dr. because Batman wasn't feeling good
Picking up hot wheels with his excavator
Aubrey loves to dress up all the time!
This is where and how they always like to "play school" and this tiny ladybug car is the teacher!
Puzzles!
Wrestling - there is a lot of this that goes on.
Building towers.
And I literally just took this picture as I am typing this up. They love to read books together.
One of the best things about looking back through these pictures is seeing how much their bond has grown, their creativity and their playful side.
"Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they've learned from you will be with them for life." -Proverbs 22:6
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