The way the question was phrased was, I believe, an attempt at humor (the liars bit), so yes it *was* silly. And my answer was me being a jackass – ie: say what you mean, don’t say one thing if you mean another thing. (If you’re trying to communicate that you only watch DVDs say that *instead* of just saying you don’t watch TV. If you’d like to communicate both things, say both things. Like I said, I was being a jackass.)

That being said, even if you’re avoiding commercials but you’re still letting your kids watch 8 hours of DVDs every day, they’re sitting in front of media for a long time, which is also something my mind tends to wander towards (content is important, so it time). I do believe children need time using their brains in different, more creative ways, as well as moving their little bodies and getting exercise.

I don’t see *anything* wrong with not watching TV or only watching DVDs/movies, and I don’t think you’re a liar. (For the record, I didn’t write the questions.)

Also – we did the overnight car trips too – and that’s when my kid would NOT sleep and then would stay up for HOURS into the night and we’d wonder, “OH MY GOD IS SHE GOING TO SCREAM THE WHOLE WAY!?!?”
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..No Watermelon Carrying Moments =-.

Sorry to take up so much space on your delightful blog!
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Camera Critters – My Favorite =-.

Because I get way too into syntax and the real meaning of what is being said, I always responded that my kids watched movies (they were on videos in my day). We had a huge collection of every cartoon movie that was ever made back then, and still do. (gosh I sound ancient)

TV was what the network folks wanted to sell me on. It was terrible commercials (yeah even back in the 90″s) that I didn’t want my kids to see, and it broadcasted pretty raunchy programming that wasn’t (in my opinion) for the eyes and ears of my ‘babies.’ That was never more evident to me, as when they took Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman off the air. It was the one show we did sit down on Saturday night to “watch TV” together as a family. When the network took it off the air, it was because they wanted to reign in more of the 15-25 year old guys as viewers on Saturday nights at 8pm. I remembered laughing thinking – what 18-25 year old guy is home watching TV at 8pm on a saturday night!

I seriously never thought I was being dishonest or trying to hide something by saying we didn’t watch TV. We did not watch broadcasted TV.

Now I hear the kids say – oh there is nothing on TV tonight, let’s watch a movie. How is that wrong?

OR how ’bout you rent a movie from somewhere – do you say – “Oh we’re going to “watch TV tonight” or do you say, “we’re going to watch a movie tonight?”

If you play a DVD on your computer, or now in the car on a portable dvd player, are your kids watching TV or are the watching a movie?

Isn’t it silly to call someone a liar about this? It’s only perception. And, in the scheme of things – what does it really matter?
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Camera Critters – My Favorite =-.