the magic box

Before having kids, I was one of those people who vowed that my children wouldn't watch tv before they were two-years old. And then one day I discovered, quite by accident, that by pressing a button on the magic box, I was quickly left with a transfixed, enraptured child. Suddenly I could do things that had previously been impossible, like sitting down during the day.
To make myself feel better I set up strict rules about how often they could watch and the types of shows. One hour during the day and one hour in the evening. And for better or worse, I've stuck with that schedule. The temptation is always there; to let the tv replace me for a few hours but that isn't what I really want.
However today I broke my rule and pressed the button early. My excuse is that I woke up feeling sick; tired and achy. I struggled through the morning and when 10:30 hit, I was done. I was alternating between taking my turn in the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel game and lying on the floor. So I turned on the tv despite the raging guilt and the voice insisting that I was turning my child's brain into mush.
I can hear my mom clapping right now. She thinks I'm way too strict on the tv rule and often tells me it is okay to cut myself a break once in a while. But my fear is that one break will turn into two and that it will continue on in this downward spiral. At the end, I will be spending my day in bed while my kids sit and watch show after show, leaving permanent imprints of their tiny behinds in our couch. So today was an exception to the rule and tomorrow I will be back to ignoring the seductive lure of the magic box.

photo from: medheadlines.com