My Name is Laurie and I'm Addicted to TV

Our family has disconnected our digital cable, telephone and high-speed Internet. We are one month into our four-month crusade of being unplugged. 

We are hanging in there. It feels like it’s been off forever. Ever since we found out we get 10 channels on our TV, it’s been a little better dealing with the loss. There have been benefits to this experiment too. We now know what the weather will be like the next day, because we watch the news now.

Every day, our 12-year-old begs me to turn it back on. Every day he asks me to take him to one of the many free WiFi places around town. Every day he watches some movie that he has seen a million times. He has been the most to suffer during this time of crisis, (as he sees it).

Molly and Mathew as I predicted are fine, they just go with the flow. At first Mathew thought his Webkinz would die, but I assured him that Ms. Birdie would look after them until he could go to Webkinz land again. Molly is thrilled because Mom has added new crafts to her supply box to keep her busy.

My husband Bob and I have been making do. At first we were going to bed early. We were getting extra "loving" time in. After all, there was nothing else to do, lol!

Disclaimer: Not all wives will do the same just because there is no TV to watch.

But, that didn't last long because my brother-n-law who lives in the pool house remembered we could tap into basic TV and get 10 channels. 

After that was discovered, life went back to the way it was. My hubby comes home from work, plops into the recliner and watches the TV until I wake him up to go to bed. Only it’s worse, he falls asleep channel surfing 10 minutes in, because there is not much to watch.

I’m avoiding the TV, because I’m totally addicted. I’ve been known to stay up until 1 a.m. watching it. I’ve been trying to train myself, avoiding my spot on the couch. I’m trying to keep busy, lucky for me we have a family reunion in two weeks. Some family members from Florida are staying with me, so I’ve got furniture to move and rooms to clean. I’m grateful for the distraction.

The problem that I’ve been noticing lately is that the kids and the hubby have been turning the TV on, just out of habit. I thought I caught the kids watching the news the other day, but no, they were on their Nintendo DS’s. I don’t think we need the TV on for background noise, people! My next move will be to make a sign and hang it on the TV to remind everyone that there is nothing on to watch.

My brother in-law has been suffering along with us. At first he was reading and doing puzzles to pass the time away. Now, I think he has been at the gym and 99 Restaurant watching TV almost nightly. His kids, who visit, have been missing my Internet hook up.

So there you have it. One month and no communication equals more time in the bedroom and a teenager, that thinks you are ruining their life, driving you nuts. Overall, a decent month. God, I hope the next three get easier!