Don't even miss it

So this summer I wanted to avoid my kids wasting their free time and the gorgeous weather by sitting in front of the TV.  Or fighting about watching TV.  Or getting fussy from watching TV.  It won't surprise you that like all other kids, they are way crankier and mouthier after sitting in front of the screen for any length of time.  Also, if there is a chore they need to do and there is a TV show on, they will start panicking and stressing out because they are missing out on something (shameful admission: I do the same thing sometimes).  I didn't even want it to be an issue.  For years I declared a "Rest Hour" which was designed to be a media cleanse in hopes they would decompress and get some reading done or play quietly.  Although the media was absent during Rest Hour, it often ended up being even noisier than the rest of the day because the boys would be so rowdy in their imaginative play.  Before summer started I had an idea and was ready to roll out a Summer Schedule (me? a schedule?) and I was equally ready for all the whining and complaining that would ensue from said schedule.  Since the boys respond to printed lists and calendars, I laminated (no going back after a lamination!) a schedule that outlined the hours between 8am-4pm would be free of any TV or video games and their chores and curriculum must be done before using the TV.  Period.  I handed out the calendars, I verbalized that TV block, and I waited.

Quiet.  No disputes.  No wailing.  No fighting.  It was crazy, but they complied and it worked so well that I told them the policy would continue when school started.  It gives them a chance at the end of the day to relax from school, get their reading and homework done, or just eat a snack.  This may not seem like a big deal for a lot of families, but for us it is huge.  In fact, sometimes they are so involved in playing with friends or toys, the TV doesn't get turned on at all.  Is it possible my kids are used to my routines?  I'm loving it.  Having a 'law' like this in the house has been great and they don't even pester me about it.  In other words, they don't even miss it.

If only I can get Presley on board.....