The Light Box: Reason #1

My relationship with TV has changed since Rain was born. I was never a big TV watcher, but I've spent my fair late nights with the Discovery Channel like most Americans. TV & I never had an open-arms kind of relationship, but we were guarded friends. Lately, though, we've had a suspicious-neighbors-sort-of-thing going on. This happened for two reasons.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, who many parents regard as the final say in any matter, says that children should not be allowed to watch television until they are two years old. After, they should watch no more than 30 minutes a day, at least while they are preschool age.

I know. Parents with toddlers right now are laughing. How dare the AAP attempt to take Dora the Explorer, Diego (her unbelievably successful knockoff), The Wiggles, The Backyardigans, and--shall I whisper it?--Sesame Street from our children? Oh, yes, they dare. I understand the AAP has legitimate reasons for putting the smackdown on Sponge Bob. They don't want any more mini coach 'taters becoming tubby adults. Let's face it: slap a plate of chocolate chip cookies on top of it, and TV is basically a nanny.

That's what has me worried. If I start letting Rain watch TV, even if she only watched educational shows, will I start phoning it in? Honestly, the idea that Rain could be captivated for hours on end while I finally got some stuff done is more than tempting. Sure, I'd start with one 30-minute program here and there, but how long would it be before it became a daily thing, tacking on more shows as the weeks went on? Don't misunderstand: Rain is a full-time gig. She has been ON since the day she was born, and too much of the same scenery bores her, which leads to amped-up crying. That means we're constantly playing, singing, looking at books, taking trips to the store; I have to work it all day. But, do I want her keeping her spot warm on the couch?

What about a happy medium, you say? Moderation? That's what I'm trying to tell you: I'm not a moderate person. I'll dump her in front of a set for hours and hours if you let me! Sure, that gets me voted down for Mother of the Year, but it's probably the truth. So for now, Rain is TV-less. I keep the TV off most of the time, and when we do watch it, I turn her back towards it. Sometimes she starts to turn her head, and I tell her, "No Light Box for you!" before shutting it off. Will I eventually give in? Sure, but for now, when I see Light Box, I vote "no."