While sitting waiting for my hair to dry, I got to looking around Tim’s sparsely furnished apartment. I decided that it was a lot like being at camp.
You see, my husband Tim decided, after spending lots of time in Austin during the last legislative session, he would just get an apartment there this year. I visited him and his apartment for the first time Valentine’s Day weekend.
We had a very nice weekend. Tim bought me some chocolate-covered strawberries; I gave him a sappy card. We ate out for several meals, and we enjoyed celebrating our love for the whole weekend.
But his apartment is exactly what you would expect of a guy’s apartment. No pictures on the wall-only one of the two of us together on the dresser. (I snuck it into a box because I didn’t want him to forget me! 😉 ) No coffee maker. No cute pillows. No TV.
Actually the “no TV” didn’t bother me, but it is probably something that will change before long. (Tim is a news junkie.) We had some really good conversations and enjoyed our time while I was with him, even sans TV. It reminded me of the time when, while raising our children, we went without a television for about 10 years.
It was a good time for our family. It helped us break our dependence upon the TV. Our children became avid readers (no other source of entertainment). We talked more and spent more time interacting. We read more.
It was not always easy. For the first football season without a television, we went to my sister’s every Sunday afternoon to watch the Dallas Cowboys play. The next year, not so much. The third year, not at all.
I missed having TV time during which I could do handwork. However, I soon discovered recorded books, which were actually much better (better stories, left more to the imagination, and one doesn’t drop as many stitches while trying to keep an eye on the activity), and I enjoy those to this day.
Another positive is what you can avoid watching! Television is so much worse than it was 20 years ago! I was disappointed recently when my favorite show had an episode treating what the Bible calls sin as something everyone should accept as normal. And you never know what’s going to pop up in an advertisement!
Again, as I mentioned last week concerning watching R-rated movies, as Christians we need to be careful about what we allow our eyes to see and our minds to dwell on, remembering that Jesus is right there with us.
However, after contemplating all this while my hair was drying, I decided it might be nice if Tim’s apartment had a blow dryer!
I heard you speak at the Texas Homeschool Moms’ Winter Summit and enjoyed hearing you. One of my friends especially appreciated your words of wisdom for her. And that’s how I found out about your blog.
We didn’t watch tv for about a year when we first married, and we spent more time together, talking because there wasn’t tv to watch. We still limit our tv, and we don’t have cable, but there are times when we watch too much. At least, with Netflix, there aren’t commercials! But I know what you mean about being careful what we watch.
Thanks, Nikki, for your kind words! I’m glad you found my blog!
I loathe the TV. It’s addictive. The commercials are always BLARING. It’s mind-dumbing. A time-waster. It doesn’t take long before you’re saying, “She only cussed once…”
When we married nearly 34 years ago, we never bought a TV. Ever. I was raised with one; he wasn’t. In hotels, he turns it on to watch cooking shows or the History Channel. Of course I hate it that it’s in our “bedroom” in a hotel, and it makes me even more grateful we don’t have a TV in our home.
Love all your posts,
Kelley~
Lyndsay, next time you’re in town, I’ll come style your hair!
Claire, thanks for the offer! So sweet!
I love reading your blogs, but this one in particular jumped out at me because it is a constant source of contention at home. My husband wishes to have the TV on no matter what when he is at home blaring in the background. It doesn’t matter whether we are eating,trying to have a conversation or even when we go to bed the TV has to be on. I can’t stand it. It drives me crazy, but I stopped fighting him on it. I just turn it off after he leaves to get some peace and quiet. I even have to study with the TV on. It is beginning to affect my grades in college. Any suggestions?
Naomi, you’re right to stop fighting with your husband about this, but I know that doesn’t help relieve the irritation.
You might try earplugs, especially when you’re studying. I’ve found that listening to recorded books is a good distraction, even while in the same room as a TV that’s on. Probably it wouldn’t work when you’re studying though; maybe calm music would though.
I remember when all of were growing up and no TV being in your home. At the time I thought it was kinda strange but as an adult there are certain T V shows and movies I have no desire to watch. So I’m gonna try to do this no TV for a weekend or so. Oh by the way I enjoy your blog.
You go, girl! Let me know how it goes!