We ration our son’s screen time.
At this point, he only plays a handful of tablet games, so “screen time” is still mostly “TV watching time,” and we try to limit it. If he’s going to become a couch potato, it’s at least going to be when he’s old enough to watch legitimate programming. There’s no need to binge watch “Dinotrux”.
Of course, sometimes we need him to watch something, just to get him out of our hair. And one of the joys of TV in 2015 is the ability to stream shows whenever we want. We’re not slaves to the programming schedule. But we are slaves to our kid.
So if we need to get something done, we’ll throw on Netflix and let him go to town. (But not “The Town.” He’s too young for that much Affleck.)
A thirty-minute show doesn’t give you a ton of time with which to work, so it’s not like we’re curing cancer while the kid catches up on “Rescue Bots.” But it can definitely be helpful.
Here’s a list of things Mom and Buried and I use this counter programming tactic to accomplish.
Things We Do While Son is Watching TV
- Cook – The last thing Mom and Buried and I need when we’re trying to manage dinner is having to dodge some three-foot-tall moppet who’s running underfoot opening cupboards, inexplicably sitting down in the middle of the kitchen floor to draw, and/or begging for every snack he glimpses when we open the pantry for something. So he gets a show. Or two. Until dinner is ready and then we have a screaming match about turning the goddamn TV off so we can eat as A GODDAMN FAMILY STOP SPITTING FOOD AT THE WALL GO TO BED!
- Clean – You know what’s worse than cleaning? Cleaning while The Nothing lurks behind you, undoing everything you’ve done. Strike that, I’d prefer if he were The Nothing, because at least when he was done, everything would just be gone! Instead, he leaves chaos and destruction in his wake, and then we have to turn around and clean that up. He’s like a walking oil spill. So he gets a show. Or two. Until the cleaning is done except it’s never done so he gets eighteen more shows I’ll be in the bedroom chugging beers because WHAT’S THE FUCKING POINT.
- Work – I occasionally work from home. Mom and Buried’s actual office is in North Carolina, so she exclusively works from home. It sounds delightful, I know, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you have kids. It’s gotten easier now that Detective Munch is in school, but he still gets home well before quitting time, so sometimes you need to distract him so you participate ib a conference call without him climbing on you screaming “poopy butt!” over and over. Which is a literal thing that literally happens, unless he’s watching “Scooby Doo!” Which is exactly what he’ll be doing until I finally take the phone off mute, say “thanks everyone!” to all the people I’ve been ignoring for the past hour, and hang up.
- Make the Bed – This isn’t a euphemism. I hate making the bed, but I hate it even more when my kid follows me in there while I’m doing it and starts jumping on top of the sheets. I kind of want to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept that he just wants to play and he wants to hang out with his daddy and he has energy to burn like any five-year-old, but I’m pretty sure he knows that if he annoys the fuck out of me while I’m trying to accomplish something, I’ll put on Netflix. Because kids are the smartest stupid idiots on earth. Whether it’s a ploy or not, it works. Enjoy the “Curious George” Halloween special for the 18th time, weirdo!
- Make the Bed – This is a euphemism. Enjoy the “Curious George” Halloween special for the 19th time, weirdo! And make sure you turn it up really loud, we’ll be in the bedroom… making the bed, if you know what I mean! (Don’t worry, it’s totally safe to say that to him because he has no idea what I mean.) (FYI: I’m talking about having sex.)
Counter programming is a handy trick. But be careful; you might find yourself leaning on it a bit too often. Last week I let him watch three hours of “Mystery Incorporated” just so I could squeeze in a nap.
As part of the Netflix Stream Team, I was compensated with a year’s subscription to Netflix for a year and a Roku TV. But my opinions are 100% my own.
Except for the ones Mom and Buried provides for me.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good. https://www.binance.info/kz/register-person?ref=RQUR4BEO
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://accounts.binance.info/ph/register-person?ref=IU36GZC4
Since the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very rapidly it will be famous, due to its quality contents.
Hi, for all time i used to check blog posts here in the early
hours in the dawn, because i enjoy to learn more and more.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog
and I am impressed! Extremely useful information specifically the
last section 🙂 I take care of such information much. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time.
Thanks and good luck.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Boostaro is a modern men’s wellness boostaro formula created to support daily vitality, stamina, and confidence through a practical, natural routine.
Mình thấy xn88. com phù hợp cho cả người mới vì thao tác đăng ký và sử dụng đều khá đơn giản. TONY06-25
Sau vài hôm dùng thử 888slot com link , mình cảm thấy trải nghiệm tổng thể khá tốt. TONY07-20
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.
Greate pieces. Keep posting such kind of info on your blog. Im really impressed by it.
May I just say what a comfort to discover somebody who actually knows what they’re talking about on the net. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people need to check this out and understand this side of your story. It’s surprising you are not more popular since you certainly possess the gift.
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Spending some time and actual effort to create a superb article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Excellent post. Keep posting such kind of info on your site. Im really impressed by it.
Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and for my part recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this website.
Right now it seems like Expression Engine is the top blogging platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Aw, this was a really nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://accounts.binance.bh/register/person?ref=GGYHGRE
May I just say what a comfort to discover somebody that truly knows what they’re talking about over the internet. You definitely realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people ought to check this out and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular given that you surely have the gift.
Hey there, You’ve done an excellent job. I’ll definitely digg it and in my view suggest to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Hey there I am so happy I found your blog page, I really found you by mistake, while I was searching on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the excellent job.
Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog!
Hey there, You’ve performed an incredible job. I will definitely digg it and in my opinion recommend to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
Greate post. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog. Im really impressed by your site.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say superb blog!
Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never manage to get anything done.
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a great article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and don’t seem to get anything done.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
At this time it appears like WordPress is the top blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Excellent article. Keep posting such kind of info on your page. Im really impressed by your site.
Hello there, You’ve performed an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this web site.
Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t seem to get anything done.