You'll get square eyes!!

Photo credit to my Mama

A long while ago I was given the advice "start how you intend to continue", it has travelled with me and been spoken into my life by many wise people. I apply this to a lot of things - my faith, my marriage, my parenting, my friendships. Some times I don't end up continuing how I started things but I have learnt that it is far easier to stay in good practices rather than try and make up for lost time and bad practices.

What do I want? I want a family who is committed to quality time, who will talk and socialise, who will ask each other how their days were and will have things to share from their own. I would like a family who at the end of the day will feel as if they lived. They got out, learnt, adventured. I would like a family who can go away at the weekends, fill their afternoons. A family who can get off their bums.

Recently, I have been considering this mantra to my internet and television life.

Milla is aware. Very very aware. She notices, she looks, she listens, she learns. As a result in the last month I have seriously limited my internet usage and tv usage.

I'm not a huge TV watcher but I have it on during the day for company. I noticed that Milla will stop what she is doing and watch TV (even when I'm not). Infomercials, the news, the latest happenings in summer bay, what ever. If its moving, it has her attention. To be honest, that scared the crap out of me. I dont want a toddler hooked to the TV. I don't want a 10 year old who needs to play the playstation. I dont want a 15 year old who wont leave their room and is glued to the TV.

So, what did I do? I started how I intend to continue. I turned the TV off and I shut the laptop. I don't want her growing up thinking she needs to compete with an apple symbol for my attention. 


I still have Breakfast on in the mornings, and I occasionally keep Master Chef on (although it's finishing tomorrow). Instead during the day I have been playing music from a hiding laptop (really need to invest in a radio for our lounge) and I have been making a conscious effort to participate in her play times. I check my emails and blog while she is asleep. If the day is dragging we get out of the house, we visit friends, do some shopping, drink some coffee or just get out and get some fresh air.

We aren't perfect. The TV often gets turned back on for the news, or to occupy me while I'm cooking dinner. I don't feel as if I'm going overboard with this. I think everything in moderation is a good thing.

At night our lives are a bit different. When the husband comes home often all we have to do is watch a TV programme. We get whole seasons of a show we like and we go through them at our leisure rather than watching things we're not really interested in. Some times its hard to get out and continue to do the things you used to do. With a new baby, the wonders of TV really are wonderful. It would be nice to think of something new we could do together in our own home. Play a game? Do a puzzle? Who knows.

I'm finding it interesting to grow as a parent as Milla grows. Seasons change, and so do we. This new aware thing is a new season, and soon something else will need to be adjusted, and then something else. It's all learning and its all growing.