TV Turnoff Week - Day 1

Just shoot me now!

I decided that I wanted out family to participate in TV turnoff week. Last year, when I suggested this, I thought the roof would collapse. This year, I put my foot down. Not only with the kids, but with DH as well.

You see we are a totally electronics addicted family. I see issues with the kids from this. A reluctance to try anything new that does not include a plug, Lastborn's reluctance to move his body at all, and a constant struggle with who gets control of what electronic device and for how long.

I really felt that this would be a good way to teach the family that there is life during a power outage. One would think...

So when the boys came home from school today, I tried to be somewhat nice to them. I knew the question would come up about whether they could play electronic games or what in the world were they supposed to do without electronics? I was somewhat prepared. I forced an increased tolerance of their fighting ad roughhousing in the house. They played sword fight with the Nerf swords I purchased for Lastborn's party (until Firstborn broke one). Then I sent them outside to practice on the hop balls that we will use at the party as horses for the joust. I guess I need to post on our medieval party plans for Lastborn. But that will be another post.

So I help the kids find the hop balls in the garage. All they want to know is where are the pool noodles that we will use as the jousting staffs. We have not purchased them yet.

"Don't worry about the noodles," I say. "Just practice with the balls."

Just then, Lastborn falls off the ball onto his face.

"See?" I say quickly. "You need to figure out how to use the balls before you can worry about the noodles." I'm so cruel.

Being much accustomed to my sarcasm, the boys see the humor in this. So, I return to my office to look into doggy training in our area. (yet another post)

In a few minutes, I hear frantic screaming. It takes me a minute to decide whether this is really danger screaming or just the sound of two boys having fun in the front yard. I'm still not sure but decide to get up and check it out just in case. I look out the front window to see Lastborn lying in the gutter and Firstborn looking like he is trying to roll Lastborn out of the gutter onto the sidewalk. The hop ball Lastborn had been using was in the middle of the street.

Now, I am aware that an 8 year old and an 11 year old should be able to play in the front yard of their suburban home without danger. I know that the street doesn't get too much traffic and there are no nearby bends for a car to come streaking around and hit an unknowing child, but still. It looks like my son has been hit by a car, or maybe he hopped too close to the street and did another face plant on the cement but this time lost consciousness.

I ran outside in my slippers (make that waddled quickly) to find out how bad the damage is. At this point, Lastborn sits up with a big smile on his face, and firstborn reports that Lastborn was playing too close to danger and he was trying to get him to move back into the yard.

No more playing in the front yard, and he got a good dose of shouting for this one.

I reported this scene to DH last night and his only question was, "You didn't yell at him outside did you?" Ah yes, the neighbors still think we are nice people. Anyone taking bets on how long that will last?