For the past year or so, we’ve had cable television. It came as part of an insanely cheap package deal which included phone and internet. But the good deal is coming to an end and our bill will increase by at least $70 a month. So we’ve decided to cancel the television and phone. I’m fine with that, unless I think about summer.
I freely admit that I was intending to use the television as a babysitter this summer, having the kids watch t.v. for an hour each day while I napped. I can be a real bear without good rest (as college roommates have good reason to remember) and it only worsens when I am pregnant and am suffering through the stifling summer heat.
So now I’m not sure what to do. We don’t have a DVD player. Our television is an old analog model and DVD players aren’t even compatible. Do you have any ideas of how to keep four kids under the age of 9 quiet, happy and out of trouble while I nap? The boys don’t like to color. I don’t want them playing computer games because they fight. Trent is still a fledgling reader and needs my help with many words. Josef is just on the cusp of reading. So reading kind of seems out of the picture.
If you have an suggestions or ideas, they would be greatly appreciated.
(And for the record, the kids watch t.v. for 30 minutes a day, play computer for 20 minutes and play wii for 20 minutes a day. I don’t want you to think they are always dependent on electronic devices for their entertainment. They can’t play or watch until all homework is completed and have played outside for at least 45 minutes. Just so you don’t think I’m a REALLY bad mom. )
I do NOT think you are a bad Mom!
I have one friend who has “quiet time” for everyone in the house, including Mom. The kids have to be in their rooms reading or resting, even her 10 year old! And it works for them.
Other ideas. . .jigsaw puzzles, board games, play dough, letter-writing. I’ll keep thinking.
Can you play DVD’s on your computer?
But, honestly, I would probably start hitting up the garage sales and/or Craigslist for a TV/DVD player. I got a very new TV for $15 at a garage sale last spring. Our old one was more than 20 years old and the sound was terrible. I still leave the pricetag on my garage sale TV because I’m so proud of it!
Good luck!
You are cute! We cut out the cable for a year or so at a time, whenever our deals run out, too, and the kids always find stuff to do, including watching the hundreds of dvds we seem to have acquired over the years. My advice is to put stuff they are free to get into alone in places they can get to (you probably already do this, but here ya’ go anyway) (i.e. scratch paper, crayons, pencils, books you don’t care if they get trashed, large legos or “math manipulatives” of some sort, a chalkboard or whiteboard they can use, etc.). Then the reward for keeping quiet while mom naps is to do the other stuff with you (play-dough, markers, reading together, playing a board game).
You still have that TV!? That is hilarious. Get a new one or just get a tiny car-sized dvd player, that will do for short stints (like your naps, which I HAVE to have when pregnant, too, btw) and for trips, but the kids won’t constantly use it b/c it’s too small to really enjoy. Or you can get a smallish one (say 15-17 inches, with a built in dvd player) for about 100$ (which is a lot, I know! Save for a couple of months.), and use it/store it in your room, then bring it out when the kids “need” it. My kids always think it’s the biggest treat to have a tv in their room (even just for the length of a movie), and a tv is harder for the kids to trash/break than a car-sized dvd player.
Now, since you were obviously fishing for the complements you KNOW are coming, I will throw you a few of my choicest in all sincerity, b/c you deserve it!
You are awesome! You are a great mom for those sweet kids. What great kids you have, you raise them right! I know you are a great parent b/c your parenting style is very similar to mine, and (sometimes) I am STELLAR! Ergo, YOU are STELLAR! I admire you for dealing with all your health problems and being patient with your good husband who has taken a loooooong time to finish school and get a “real” job (trust me, I empathize 100%, and my husband only got a Bachelor’s degree in his 13 years at college!). I also admire you for moving to a totally foreign country, and enjoying it while your sweet hubby worked/schooled there. You are a good Sister, friend, and choice Daughter of our Heavenly Father, and I know He is proud of you. I know you do your best most of the time, and when you don’t (like all of us) you dust yourself off and get going again. I love you, and am so glad to be your friend.
The best friend of a frugal person (like me) is freecycle. You would be amazed at the things people are willing to give away to someone else because (a) they don’t need it anymore, since they bought a new one; and (b) giving it to someone else is easier than trying to sell it for a pitiful amount; and (c) it keeps extra stuff out of the landfills longer.
Anyhow you can most likely find a newer TV there for free, it is a yahoo group, if you google it you shouldn’t have any problems finding it.
And you are a great Mom. I used to have to take naps on the couch and David would sit behind my bent legs (as I layed on my side) and watch a TV show. When he was little he usually ended up sleeping as well.
I feel so out of place with these comments. I am not a mom, I have a wonderful husband that let’s me “veg” when I need it.
Tiff, You are so amazing. You are a great mom and a wonderful person.
We do not have cable, neither of my sisters do. It’s just too expensive. We have an old t.v. that we jimmy rigged to the VCR then to the DVD. It works.
For activities: I love the puzzle idea. One of my great friends from my mission is an avid puzzler. She is totally smart. It’s fun and takes lots of time!
And since your children come from such great actors, would they be interested in putting on a play. Give them a theme, set an egg timer for say and hour or so.. When the egg timer goes off your nap is over and you get a little play.
That might help the other kids learn words and reading a little.
Again I don’t have kids… I just teach primary.
And I love you
Freecycle is pretty great! I’ll keep my eye out.
You are a terrific mom.
Tiff- Hey it’s been a long time! Thought I could offer some advice on this topic. Here is an idea that kept my kids and all the daycare kids occupied for a while. Paintbrushes and water. You can get a couple of tiles for them to paint on (needs to be the darker, porous type) or you can let them loose on the outside sidewalk. Both surfaces will dry quickly leaving them to repaint their pictures over and over. It’s clean, it’s entertaining, and it so, so quiet! Good luck!!