We're going TV free for 1 week

A few months ago we got cable hooked up in our home. We've lived here a year without it, which is okay really, except that we have a hard time getting reception in this house. I personally am not a big tv watcher. I like cable mainly for the variety of educational shows available. I can incoroporate it in to their homeschooling. And I like having News Now 53 and watching Doctor Who, lol. Anyways, we got cable while my mom was still living here, and we thought it wouldn't be too much of a pinch to get it, and if we find that we can't afford it, we would disconnect it. Well, we had it free for maybe a month and a half, and the last month or two we were able to pay, but things started getting tighter. Now, we absolutely can not afford it. We are very short in being able to pay the neccessary bills for about the next few months. I don't want to elaborate publicly on all the details, especially since that's not the topic of this post, but it is what spurred this idea! I know this isn't a new idea, but it's going to be a first for my family!

So, here's the plan. I am calling the cable company today and getting cable completely shut off, & getting my internet down-graded to the slow speed that I originally had before my mom moved in with me (I can get it free with the Lifeline phone service I already have). This will free up a good amount of money for the neccessary bills. After the cable is shut off, we will go tv free for at least a week. I don't think that my kids have gone that long without it before, except maybe during the 2007 ice storm, when we didn't have power for a week. I did get batteries after a few daysfor a small portable tv we have, but that was pretty much for watching the news. I can't remember if I let them watch a show or two or not. We have gone a few days at a time! But, my kids have gotten too hooked on tv (I know, I'm the only one who can really take the blame for that). So, I'm taking responsibility and taking action. Now, I don't think I let them watch it nearly as much as I've known other people to watch tv, and they don't have one in their room. So, this isn't going to be as tough as it could be, but I know it's not going to be completely easy either! But, I know it will be worth it.

I know there are other people, like the Duggars (19 Kids & Counting) whose children don't watch tv, and they seem to be all the better for it. That's what gave me the idea to do this, families that have no tv at all. I have witnessed my kids have a negative change in their behavior after they watch shows they shouldn't, and a positive change after watching good quality Christian shows such as the ones on Smile of a Child. So, how much more improvement might I see if there is no tv all, but instead find other positive forms of entertainment? Along with spending time doing constructive things, such as their chores, school work, educational computer games, books, the Bible, etc.

I plan on taking the tv completely out of the living room for the whole week. I'm leaving the one in my bedroom in place, but unplugging it. This is just for the fact that it is currently tornado season, and we have been experiencing a lot of severe weather lately, and if something comes up (there are storms expected for the next 4 days) than I want to be able to check the weather quickly and easily for warnings. But other than that, no acceptions (the weather is a safety, life/death issue, so it doesn't count).

Also, I am working on making a lot of improvements in our lives, beginning with mine. I'm working on getting my house organized, helping Faith catch up on math (we will be working through the summer), growing in my relationship with God, growing in Biblical womanhood and teaching my girls to grow in Biblical girlhood, and getting to bed and waking up at decent times, just to name a few. Taking the biggest distraction, time waster, and negative influence out of our lives should be a help. I might take it longer than a week so we can move past the withdrawl point and actually start being able to see the benefits of having no tv.

So, wish me luck! I'm a little anxious just because I dread the withdrawls my girls will have (it won't bug me so much, I never have really cared for tv, there's so much more in life to enjoy). I will try to post updates on how it works and any improvements I see in our lives.