It just sat there, quietly. Waiting.
I was adamant about not exposing her to television -- "It is a slippery slope," I told my husband, "Nothing good can come from her watching TV. No, nothing, not even the educational programs."
And she was blissfully happy -- as was I.
And then one day, someone (it wasn't me) turned on the grey box and it talked and sang and the characters in the box danced.
And that someone kept turning it on and eventually I got wind of it.
I had to push down all of my control issues and smile and say, "well isn't that nice, she sure does seem to like it." (big surprise)
I continued to resist turning it on. In fact, for months, I told her "no" almost every time she asked me. (let someone else rot her brain, not me)
She still played with puzzles, begged to go outside and take a walk, read books, colored, & chased her now crawling brother around the house.
One evening, while juggling an 11 month old and two year old - I realized that bedtimes went a lot smoother with the addition of the great distractor -- TV. The same held true at nap times.
Suddenly, it appeared that television, in moderation, might be OK.
I still tell her "no" more than she would like. And I still cringe every time I say "yes."
It isn't because I really think it is rotting her brain. And her love affair with Bert & Ernie is truly precious. It is because as her mom, I am convinced it is my job to only offer her the best -- to never put her in a situation where she receives less than the ultimate. And when she's watching TV, I am not sure it is the best quality use of time. At the same time, as her mom, it is my hope to teach her how to enjoy, in moderation,the less better things in life and TV may just be the beginning.
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