There have been several notable things happen in the past month - but one of the biggest: We got a TV!
Oh it feels good to have a TV again.
So I mentioned how our TV broke in July. We had computer devices to connect us to the outside world, but no TV for 4 months.
In this process of waiting 4 months to get a TV I think my girls learned some valuable lessons:
- Patience in waiting
- The value of money.
- The difference between a need and a want.
- That tithing is more important than a TV.
Our girls knew we didn't have the money to rush out and buy a new TV right away. They knew we would need to save and work hard to earn extra money, so they helped with the process. We had a garage sale and I sold a few other things from around our house on Mesa Consign (a group on Facebook). I had these red chairs that we got during our years of plenty. Though the girls liked using them in their creative playtime, they knew that they would rather have a TV than the chairs. So we sold them. The girls saw the benefit of getting rid of things for something they wanted more. They also were conscious of not asking me to spend our money on things that would take away from our TV money.
One day Elsa saw me writing a check for our tithing. She asked, "Mom, why don't you just write one of those for a new TV?" So I explained how checks worked and then I told her that the money I was paying for tithing could probably buy us a TV and I asked, "Elsa, do you think we should just buy a TV instead of paying our tithing? Thankfully she responded that paying tithing to Heavenly Father was more important than using the money for a TV.
During the past four months, it was really nice in some aspects, and in a way I was happy to be without a TV, but there are the random things that are just nice to have a TV for...like listening to Pandora in our living room or watching General Conference or sick days or family movie nights or date nights....and let's face it, when momma needs a break. I never realized just how much mentally I need that break that a TV can provide.
My days are pretty full with kids (which I love and will ever be thankful for, but kids are kids and are inherently mentally and physically exhausting). I do preschool two days a week. That's 10 active three year olds every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. I also watch a few extra children 3 days a week. Add to it that I'm now taking 4 credits of online classes, need to prep for all these kids, work in Primary, do vinyl lettering still, try to keep my house decently clean and still work to give my four girls my best....so what I'm saying is that a TV comes in handy to entertain two 2 year olds when it's 2:00 PM and I've been going non-stop with kids since 7:00 AM and need to send out a few e-mails or make a few phone calls or make that vinyl or yes, check on Facebook and relax for a bit. I realized since having our TV back that I needed that escape every once in a while to ease my stress. During a typical week I don't have a break between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM that I'm not tending 2 to 12 children. It's nice to have the digital babysitter back where I can turn on a movie and know that at least for a few minutes, my kids are safe, content, being entertained, and aren't asking me a million questions...and I can just collect my thoughts again.
Last Thursday we were prepping to get out of town. I turned on Dora for Leta and Annie to watch so I could type a letter from our Elf on the Shelf, pack, clean and send a few e-mails. I was actually able to get some things done and I could hear Leta and Annie yelling MAP at the TV. And Annie has also been singing these new songs like "Oh Christmas Tree." Where did she learn that from?....yep, Christmas Barney. It's awesome.
Don't worry, I'm still a firm believer that TV needs to be in moderation. I'm such a good mom and I told the girls that the TV doesn't like whining and that if they whine too much to watch TV then it might break again. So far they have been doing good.
So long chairs and other things...hello TV.
4 comments:
Great lessons being taught. 1. I love TV. Sadly my husband and I have successfully passed the TV watching habit on to our children. Yes, we make them turn it off but it replaced naps long ago. 2. Teaching them sacrifice. I am struggling with this right now. We have reached a point in our lives where we are not having to sacrifice financially (we didn't even start having kids til age 30), so while we talk to our kids about money and giving, etc., and we donate stuff all the time and make them donate stuff, I am concerned that they do not see us sacrifice, teaching them valuable lessons for when they are older. We still try to teach them money management - the other day Mackenzie wanted some new boots and I agreed. We went to the store but after trying on lots of pairs, the ones she wanted were more expensive than all the others. I really didn't like them either. We finally compromised - I agreed to let her get them if she paid me the difference between the price of those boots and the others. She agreed - it forced her to decide if she really wanted them. So we try but it is still hard.
Anyway, just trying to keep our kids grounded and also appreciative for what they have.
Glad you have your TV back! What a comfort! :)
I could do without a TV... but not my computer. What else would I do at three in the morning?
Elsa's check comment reminds me of when Mica was little and he asked Rachel for money. She said she didn't have any and he said, "Well, just go to the bank and get some." If only it worked that way. :)
haha i like the whining will break the TV trick- i should try that. Whats the deal with whiney twins?:)
Hi this is random I know. I have been searching for a link to the Mesa consign group on facebook and couldnt find it so I googled it and your blog came up. Do you think that you could link me to the group please? Thanks.
Laura
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