My kids love a little screen time, okay a lot of screen time. If I let them, they would make all their time, screen time. I don't let them of course. Too much time with video games and "high pads" (what Wade calls the beloved iPad which seems appropriate because it's a little like crack) and TV make my kids grumpy zombies. So I try to limit it and discourage it, and it's hard.
Everything on their screens is so immediate and right now and flashy and distracting and addicting. It's frustrating as a parent and as someone who loves my iPhone and television and my "high pad." But I also love real books and story time and connecting and think that there is so much value in those things. So, Tim and make it a priority to read to the kids a lot.
Tim recently started reading a series he loved when he was growing up, The Great Brain, to the kids and they are loving it. They gladly give up their screen time to listen to him read to them. Real books, story time and connection--it's so good.
Last week, Tim ordered the next Great Brain book in the series. The kids checked the mail everyday after school to see if the book had come yet. It was all so old-fashioned, like it was 1986 or something.
When it finally did arrive, they were so excited. About a book.
They couldn't wait for bedtime, they wanted Tim to start reading right after dinner. So, he did.
Every night before bed, the kids hurry to get their PJ's on and brush their teeth so they can hear another chapter.
Screens are good, but real books, storytime and connection are where it's at, I know that for sure this week and always.
Here's what else I know for sure this week:
Everything on their screens is so immediate and right now and flashy and distracting and addicting. It's frustrating as a parent and as someone who loves my iPhone and television and my "high pad." But I also love real books and story time and connecting and think that there is so much value in those things. So, Tim and make it a priority to read to the kids a lot.
Tim recently started reading a series he loved when he was growing up, The Great Brain, to the kids and they are loving it. They gladly give up their screen time to listen to him read to them. Real books, story time and connection--it's so good.
Last week, Tim ordered the next Great Brain book in the series. The kids checked the mail everyday after school to see if the book had come yet. It was all so old-fashioned, like it was 1986 or something.
When it finally did arrive, they were so excited. About a book.
They couldn't wait for bedtime, they wanted Tim to start reading right after dinner. So, he did.
Every night before bed, the kids hurry to get their PJ's on and brush their teeth so they can hear another chapter.
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| Wade is a little too little to be interested in chapter books, so he looks at other real books during storytime. |
Here's what else I know for sure this week:
- My kids are animals. Yeah, yeah, I just wrote how sweet they can be. And they can be. But they can also be animals. I found pictures that JT took while the other boys were wrestling and they are crazy. I mean crazy. The roughest, meanest one? Wade.
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| Yeah, look at Wade taking down the pre-teen with some crazy ultimate fighting leg lock move. Crazy. |
- I'm getting in a fitness groove, finally. It feels ahhhhmazing to get back at it. Working out is my anti-depressant, I need it and I can't believe I sort of forgot that over the past six months.
- I am sad about Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's "uncoupling." I mean come on, I hate when people break up. BUT I also like to find the funny in every situation, here's a funny made-up interview between Gwyn and Terry Gross from the New Yorker that makes me laugh.
- I love having a big family and I got to talk about it over on WhatToExpect.com this week. It was fun to see my gaggle of kids on the home page of their site. Check it out in case you missed it.
- The Good Wife wins the best show on TV right now. I have been upset all week about a major character being killed in last Sunday's episode. Yeah, I know it's TV, but it was a MAJOR character (and I possibly have an unhealthy attachment to fictional characters). How will I move on? The trailer for this Sunday's episode looks so good. It will either help me heal or put me over the edge.
What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know.
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I loved The Great Brain when I was a kid! I still remember some of the trouble he got in! What do I know for sure this week? Dogs are so much more loving and accepting than humans. Grateful to have my dog snoring by my side right now.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that your kids are so into the series! Reading is truly the best.
ReplyDeleteThe Good Wife - wow, who'd have imagined?
What I know for sure? I watch too much TV, but I do balance it out with reading. :)
What I know for sure is that I really need to quit the gym. Because I spend more time avoiding the gym than actually exercising.
ReplyDeleteWade is a powerhouse!! :)