Homegrown Texan

Born and raised in Texas, I've found the home of my heart and soul in the Pacific Northwest. I love trees, cool weather, and rain. I'm a back to basics kind of gal just trying to raise my family and find a bit of time to slow down in this hectic life.

So some of the people at Michael's school were talking about this book called "The 7 o'clock Bedtime". The basic idea is that kids in general don't get enough sleep these days, and are staying up too late watching TV, etc. in the name of spending "quality time" with the parents after work.

Well, we do let our kids watch TV, but not usually at night. That said, I think they could use some more sleep. And Jim and I could definitely use some more time in the evenings. So, we're trying it. We haven't hit 7:00 yet (and we may never; I'm not willing to do anything that pulls wake-up time before 6:30 or 7:00), but tonight I was reading stories to the kids by 7 (i.e., they were done with teeth, vitamins, etc.). By the time we did stories and finished songs, I think it was 7:45. I kind of let it drag out because I enjoy the time with them, but that's ok. I think it's time well spent, we all enjoy it, and I've noticed that if I spend a bit more time on the bedroom routine, they settle down more quickly after I leave the room.

Another thing they were talking about at school was cutting out TV entirely. I was opposed to this idea for a while, not because I think TV is grand, but because I'm opposed to absolutes in general (those who know my religious background will understand where I'm coming from on this one). However, one of the moms was mentioning how she can tell when her usually TV-less kids have watched some (at a friend's house, etc.), because they are listless and whiney. Oh, man, did that hit home. So the kids haven't had computer games or TV since last Friday night. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. It helps that we got them a new swingset this weekend, so they've been playing on that. But I'm noticing they are engaging in more imaginative play with each other, and I think that's a good thing. They really whined the first few times they asked for TV or games, but that seems to be waning. Michael hasn't asked at all, and Nathan isn't harping on it so much. That doesn't mean I'll never let them watch TV or play a video game again, but I'm seeing what a positive thing it is (and I was really skeptical). I wish I could say I'm ready to give mine up, but I'm not. Ha. But, I'm already on the computer less (aside from work, which just can't count).

So, I'm becoming less and less mainstream as time goes on. Big surprise. Someday I'll reach my goal of becoming self-sustaining and living off the grid somewhere in the mountains of Colorado. Maybe I'll become some crazy old lady witch doctor who dispenses herbs to my crazy fellow countrymen (and countrywomen) and helps the younger womenfolk when they birth their babies.

Or, perhaps my company will hit it big, I'll retire early with the money I make, and spend the rest of my life living in luxury in the Bahamas. Nah...that doesn't even sound good to me (really, it doesn't).

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