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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

COMMITMENT ...

OK, OK OK ... so I am being lazy today about doing another blog, so I decided to repost a blog of my hubby's since I thought it was written so well. I have had tons of things to get done this week, so forgive me, I have tons of blog idea's, just no time to sit and write them. Sooo, for now - this is the next best thing ! Still, I will be spilling the beans to your questions (on last blog) on Friday, so if you have any more questions, feel free to ask ! TAMMIE

COMMITMENT ...
COMMITMENT ... magnify

Well I have a few minutes at work today to spend and do nothing while I wait for someone to get here so I thought I would share a story with ya'.

It all started with my kids having a contest at school last fall to see who could NOT watch TV the longest and just what they experienced during that time so they could write a report on the matter. Soooo naturally my wife and I felt compelled to join in the so called fun and see how we felt.

I can honestly tell you this ... who thought that such an odd school report would have such a dramatic effect on our lives today. During that time we learned that we COULD do things together as a family more, have alot more fun and that the world does not revolve around everyone watching TV or being alone watching thier own programs. We also discovered that we didn't realize JUST HOW MUCH negativity is sent through us by watching the TV shows of today.

Since that time last fall, we no longer watch any of the newer shows that are on today and it has made a HUGE difference that most wouldn't believe.

For instance, my wife gave up her fave soap "All My Children" during the day and instead spends her time with the kids instead of watching other people glorify in sexual acts, lying, cheating and stealing from one another. I mean what a possitive impact that a little bit of time makes. We no longer watch evening tv shows that focus on sleeping with someone else's loved one, murder, lying, filth or who is doing what to whom. We do not watch sexually demeaning shows, not even if they are wearing anything remotely inappropriate. (It demeans the person of the opposite sex that you are supposed to be the one they look at.) My wife promptly gave up watching rated R movies after being in NY with her friend on 9/11 ... but for me it was bit harder. I have given up most, and I do still own/watch some, but we did sell alot of our DVD's last fall and were quick to make a rule that I would not watch any violence near our children - which I since have done. Our children are of course NOT allowed to watch those or even most PG-13 movies anymore, play rough video games or behave in those type of manners any longer.

Now, I am sure that OUR commitment to family would be considered as some form of radical movement these days, but I can assure you that it is not and that it has made one hec of a difference in our family. Our being with eachother now is ALOT different and we all get along better. The kids don't seem to fight or argue as often and are even learning to solve some of thier own conflicts without another fight spawning as a result. They have learned to communicate with eachother alot more and have since become to realize that they can rely on eachother more as well.

Who knew that turning of a TV would provoke such a thing ... I am sure one who would have told you that I wasn't addicted to the "box" of pictures, but now looking back, I realize myself - that in fact it caused alot of lazyness and negativity in our lives, Time after time would get passed by with "oh, but I have to watch this" ...instead of doing things with the family, listening to the kids, or doing things around the house.

So, now it is made that we put down the remote and listen to the kids, pay attention to the people in our lives and not the TV, get things done around the house or just hang out with one another. This - a fact I have become greatly attached to and become to find myself liking more and more everyday. Even though it was hard at first to get used to the idea, or to not just sit, I had to realize within my own mind that people were right - our kids watch litterally EVERYTHING we do - and in order for them to become proper adults in life we cannot do one thing and expect them to do another. So what good did it do for me to say " don't watch the TV so much ", or " find something better to do - go out and play", "stop fighting " when it is all that we had let into our lives and were doing by watching the exact same things on the TV. Kids learn from what they live, so if they see negativity they emulate it, they learn that parents think the shows are "cool" and that in some way that what others do - even on TV - is how people actually live thier lives - therefore trying to live up to that. I have seen a huge difference here and while I am now not at all sorry to say that we miss ALOT of today's shows that are on, WHAT REALLY ARE WE MISSING ?

I guess it IS up to you .....

Well, unfortunately, I have to get back to work and run supply duties before my day will end here. So - I am off ... but hopefully I gave U something to think about for the day !

ADAM

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