For years, Brian and I had talked about getting rid of cable. We always said we would do it, but we never did. The thought of not having access to the television with just a click of the remote freaked me out. We have plenty of friends who don't have cable or even a television for that matter. Those friends were always my brave friends. I mean, living without cable?? How primitive.
Well, we finally did it. While we still have a t.v. set, we don't have cable. I can honestly say, I don't miss it. Now, when March rolls around and it's the height of college basketball season, I might feel differently.
Why? Why on earth would someone not have cable?? Here are five good reasons why we opted out of cable:
5. We were getting lazy. Instead of doing anything else, our entire family would park our bums in front of the screen and zone out. We would hardly talk to each other. We would flip through the channels like zombies hoping to find something worth watching, and let's be honest, there never is anything worth watching. Now, we are 'active', as Martin so kindly puts it. Instead of watching mind-numbing t.v., we are out riding bikes (yes Brian, too), walking the dog, or heading over the the playground. This has even affected our morning routine. Brian is up early walking Sheldon before he even gets ready for work.
4. It was starting to become the focus of our home. There in the center of our Family Room sat our television set with all the chairs facing it as if it were something to be worshiped. Brian & I have always had the rule of We Are A One Television Set Family. We will not have t.v.s in bedrooms; ours or the kids. However, the t.v. still had a big presence in our family life. Now in our new home, it's still in the Family Room, still with chairs facing it, however it's off to the side without cable to tempt us. Once our basement is finished, the t.v. will go downstairs away from the Family Room.
3. I was depending on t.v. to entertain my kids. I will admit, it was worse than ever this summer. I would park both of my kids in front of the television for hours on end so I could pack, clean, and the like. I'm sure you have heard about children losing months of education over the summer? Well, it's true and my son was proof of that. Things were so out of control, he had not picked up a book in weeks and I didn't notice until he needed to read something out loud. I could not believe how much he had forgotten since school ended. Now, without cable he asks to read and is back to reading at a level suited for him. He will even sit and read to Helen.
2. I'm cheap. Yes, so cheap in fact, we have cut cable from our budget.
1. There is nothing but trash on t.v. The real deciding moment for me to rid our family of cable was one afternoon while watching the Disney Channel with Martin. (please note the two most important words of that previous sentence: afternoon and disney) There were two commercials back to back that caught my attention: one for tampons and one for birth control. [insert shocking gasp here] Please keep in mind, I am not a prude nor do I live under a rock, but we can all agree that was completely inappropriate for a six year old to see on the Disney Channel. It is impossible to monitor appropriate shows for young ones these days. I thought I was safe with Disney. Now, we go to the library and choose age appropriate (free) movies and (free) cartoon series to watch. Besides, it's fun watching things with my kids that I grew up watching.
With that being said, please do not think I am above anyone with cable. This is just what is best for our family, and it has had such a positive impact on us. We are all reading more, talking to one another, 'active', and are filling our time doing more useful things. Plus, I'm saving about $70 a month. It's a win-win.
