Submitted by omegapoint on July 21, 2008 - 6:12pm.
I'm not sure if I didn't make myself clear, you misunderstood, or if you're just being sanctimonious, but I'd like to clarify my position for the other dads.
Not having a TV in the house is a perfectly valid viewpoint. From my viewpoint, having a TV doesn't mean watching it every minute of every day; it means it's there as a valid form of entertainment that doesn't harm anyone. If you want to advocate not having a TV, you need to offer realistic alternatives.
Your opinion smacks of a person who doesn't have kids. Not that a TV is essential to parenting by any means, but your suggestions for alternatives show the common faliure in imagination that plagues college kids: forgetting that children are always around, and always need attention. One minute you fantasize about being the perfect dad having long, indepth conversations with your brilliant, even-tempered children, the next you're off exercising or spending long hours deep in study. The only other reason I could assign to your opinion is that your partner is dramtically overworked with the real responsibilities of childrearing while you indulge yourself.
While I'm not much of a fan of sports, generally people enjoy watching sports because they enjoy watching people play the game at a high level of skill. Playing ball with one's child is wonderful fun, but watching my 3 year-old chase a wiffle ball and bludgeon it with a bat isn't sports. It's playing with my kid. We all do that. Assuming everyone gets their information from TV and not books is beneath comment. Spending the day at the library, however, does bear comment. Who is watching your child while you indulge yourself like that? Have you ever tried to spend an hour much less a day at the library with a toddler or infant? Of course not. You'd have been killed by the other patrons.
Are you honestly suggesting we work all day, make dinner, take care of the kids, and then take a run right before bed? Does anyone have that kind of energy? And again, who is watching your kid while you do this?
What's the kid doing while you and your partner tango in the kitchen, popping sushi into each other's mouth while you sip your vintage port? If my wife dumped the kids in the living room and tried to "help" me in the kitchen, I'd wonder if she'd lost her mind. I get dinner served to six people within an hour after getting home so the kids can eat and digest their food before bed. It's not a time for hugs, flirting, and gentle come-hither looks in the kitchen, it's a time to get the job done as quickly as possible.
That you assume TV is a replacement for all learning and communication within a family shows your immaturity and lack of understanding of a normal family dynamic. If you have experience in getting rid of your TV, by all means let us know how you did it and what pitfalls to look out for. Until you do have expereince in real life and not just fantasy, spare us the sophomoric diatribe.
Perhaps there was a misunderstanding
I'm not sure if I didn't make myself clear, you misunderstood, or if you're just being sanctimonious, but I'd like to clarify my position for the other dads.
Not having a TV in the house is a perfectly valid viewpoint. From my viewpoint, having a TV doesn't mean watching it every minute of every day; it means it's there as a valid form of entertainment that doesn't harm anyone. If you want to advocate not having a TV, you need to offer realistic alternatives.
Your opinion smacks of a person who doesn't have kids. Not that a TV is essential to parenting by any means, but your suggestions for alternatives show the common faliure in imagination that plagues college kids: forgetting that children are always around, and always need attention. One minute you fantasize about being the perfect dad having long, indepth conversations with your brilliant, even-tempered children, the next you're off exercising or spending long hours deep in study. The only other reason I could assign to your opinion is that your partner is dramtically overworked with the real responsibilities of childrearing while you indulge yourself.
While I'm not much of a fan of sports, generally people enjoy watching sports because they enjoy watching people play the game at a high level of skill. Playing ball with one's child is wonderful fun, but watching my 3 year-old chase a wiffle ball and bludgeon it with a bat isn't sports. It's playing with my kid. We all do that. Assuming everyone gets their information from TV and not books is beneath comment. Spending the day at the library, however, does bear comment. Who is watching your child while you indulge yourself like that? Have you ever tried to spend an hour much less a day at the library with a toddler or infant? Of course not. You'd have been killed by the other patrons.
Are you honestly suggesting we work all day, make dinner, take care of the kids, and then take a run right before bed? Does anyone have that kind of energy? And again, who is watching your kid while you do this?
What's the kid doing while you and your partner tango in the kitchen, popping sushi into each other's mouth while you sip your vintage port? If my wife dumped the kids in the living room and tried to "help" me in the kitchen, I'd wonder if she'd lost her mind. I get dinner served to six people within an hour after getting home so the kids can eat and digest their food before bed. It's not a time for hugs, flirting, and gentle come-hither looks in the kitchen, it's a time to get the job done as quickly as possible.
That you assume TV is a replacement for all learning and communication within a family shows your immaturity and lack of understanding of a normal family dynamic. If you have experience in getting rid of your TV, by all means let us know how you did it and what pitfalls to look out for. Until you do have expereince in real life and not just fantasy, spare us the sophomoric diatribe.