I have decided that my family is going TV free. I had my cable service disconnected for a summer trial run.
One, I have concluded that my children (my son in particular) spends too much time in front of the idiot box. Hannah is in love with Elmo and Barney (and she can watch DVD's of her fav characters).

TV is a distraction and it consumes precious time.  Our family game nights is often interrupted by what is on.
We enjoy watching American Idol together, Master Chef and I love the food network, Barefoot Contessa is my favorite but enough already.

After consuming my last episodes of Basket Ball Wives and SIngle ladies, I have had enough. Although, I like Single Ladies, I will have to indulge and catch the episodes via web. We will be spending our summer, learning to plant flowers in a bed, playing in the yard, riding our bikes and discovering new things.  Our new home is conducive for entertaining with a wrap around porch, beautiful deck, breath taking sun room and lots of space!  Dinner parties, Ladies night, Book Clubs, sleep overs, etc. etc. The t.v will be off, but fun will be on!
Hannah has toys she has never played with and Evan has books he has never read. Ummm....not!

Evan is working on his own business and I have confiscated his DSI and Xbox remote. He is limited during the summer months to two hours of video play and one hour during the school year. He gets the remotes back when he turns his in one page report summarizing the book he read for the day.  I refuse to have lazy, inept, dumb kids. It is not an option. Hannah will be on tour with me promoting Hannah the Great, and Evan will be along side of me selling his stuff.  More on that later. His project is to work on his website and have it ready to go before school starts.

I am serious about education and business. I want my kids to enjoy their childhood and have balance but we must also have responsibility and accountability.  I am not removed from the situation. Less tv for me means more writing and fresh ideas. And the bonus will be a peaceful, quiet home full of engaged people who actually like spending time with each other.....and do.