I received the following as an email the other day from my dear friend Carol. (Thanks Carol!) I have no idea whether this really happened but surely it could have. I sense that there are many children all over the world that feel television, computers, and the telephone are all competition for attention they need so badly. Read this and let me know what you think:
A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them. At the end of the day while marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional.
Her husband, that had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her, “What happened?”
She answered, “Read this. It's one of my student's essays.”
“Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television.
I want to take its place. Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have my family around ME . To be taken seriously when I talk....I want to be the center of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want
my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me... And... I want my brothers to fight to be with me... I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least, make it that I can make them all happy and entertain them...Lord I don't ask you for much... I just want to live like every TV.”
At that moment the husband said:
“My goodness, poor kid. What horrible parents!”
She looked up at him and said, “That essay is our son's!!!” Author Unknown
Have you ever tried removing the television for an extended period of time? While we were raising our family, we eliminated television for extended periods of time several times. It didn’t hurt the children one bit. In fact, it seemed like those times were more blissful and our family was connected. Usually we would justify returning to the television so that we could watch General Conference.
General Conference ended last week and so we have a six-month period where television can be eliminated. What a perfect time for a family experiment. What can your family do without television? Here’s what I thought of: 1) Plan, plant, weed & water, & harvest a garden together. 2) Go for walks, hikes, or runs together. 3) Spruce up your yard. 4) Have cooking school. 5) Sing songs. 6) Learn how to play instruments together. 7) Make popcorn balls. 8) Visit friends and loved ones. 9) Go to a nearby canyon or park and have a picnic. 10) Play games. 11) Make a family video. 12) Have a puppet show. 13) Play with play dough. 14) Make collages of seeds, grains, or things you can find from your yard. 15) Read stories together. 16) Have a talent show. 17) Catch grasshoppers. 18) Do a project or craft together. 19) Play music and dance and be silly together. 20) Do service projects together. 21) Work on merit badges with your sons or value experiences with your daughters. 22) exercise together. 23) Get on the floor and play with your tiny ones. 24) Visit local museums, libraries, parks, etc. 25) Draw (scribble) together. 26)Go for bikes rides. 27) And, don’t forget to get your children’s ideas for things you can do together & write them down.
I hope I’ll be seeing you on one of your evening’s outings since you’ll now make time to visit. Put me on your list, okay? We would love to see you!!!
2 years ago
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1 comment:
We really do not have TV, just movies, which during the week there really isn't time for. My kids are learning to play and get a long. I also think their imaginations are growing. I think for the most part, TV is not a necessity just a luxury that we can do with out. Devan and I also talk more and we don't get lured in to staying up late.
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