Tuesday, August 28, 2007
TV, Snacks. etc.
Mary had gotten into the habit of having a bedtime snack. I know, I developed this habit for her. Somehow, it just makes her sleep better if she had something to eat a half hour before bedtime.
And nine times out of ten, the snack is a "Hot Pocket"--- the breakfast kind with the eggs and cheese and choice of sausage, ham and bacon as the filling. (I know, I have issues about foods that are supposed to be eating at certain times of the day. When I had started living by myself, I had promised myself that I will eat whatever I want WHENEVER I want - dessert at the beginning of the meal, snacks before dinnertime, steak for breakfast andI had told myself that my child or children will have this same freedom. Well, almost the same freedom, I do draw the line on allowing Mary eat candy first thing in the morning.)
And another habit that came along with this is that she eats this snack while watching another "movie" (usually, a half-hour show at Cartoon Network or Jetix).
Last night, because I wanted to have her sleeping by 9 o'clock and since we got the Hot Pocket for her at 8:57 pm, I wanted to hurry her along in consuming this snack. Turning the TV on with a "movie" that will end at 9:30 will not accomplish my goal.
So, I said, "No more TV"
"But I need to eat my snack."
"You're not going to watch TV while you eat your snack."
I got a book for me and started reading it while I wait for her to eat her snack.
"How come you always read and not watch TV?," Mary asks with some belligerence.
"I do, too but I just like to read better. You learn stuff and reading makes you smarter."
"TV makes you smart, too - you get INFORMATION," Mary argued.
I think, "information" is a big word for a five-year-old, which she probably got from TV. She had a point--- but it's bedtime--- and I'm still the boss--- so the TV stayed off.
And nine times out of ten, the snack is a "Hot Pocket"--- the breakfast kind with the eggs and cheese and choice of sausage, ham and bacon as the filling. (I know, I have issues about foods that are supposed to be eating at certain times of the day. When I had started living by myself, I had promised myself that I will eat whatever I want WHENEVER I want - dessert at the beginning of the meal, snacks before dinnertime, steak for breakfast andI had told myself that my child or children will have this same freedom. Well, almost the same freedom, I do draw the line on allowing Mary eat candy first thing in the morning.)
And another habit that came along with this is that she eats this snack while watching another "movie" (usually, a half-hour show at Cartoon Network or Jetix).
Last night, because I wanted to have her sleeping by 9 o'clock and since we got the Hot Pocket for her at 8:57 pm, I wanted to hurry her along in consuming this snack. Turning the TV on with a "movie" that will end at 9:30 will not accomplish my goal.
So, I said, "No more TV"
"But I need to eat my snack."
"You're not going to watch TV while you eat your snack."
I got a book for me and started reading it while I wait for her to eat her snack.
"How come you always read and not watch TV?," Mary asks with some belligerence.
"I do, too but I just like to read better. You learn stuff and reading makes you smarter."
"TV makes you smart, too - you get INFORMATION," Mary argued.
I think, "information" is a big word for a five-year-old, which she probably got from TV. She had a point--- but it's bedtime--- and I'm still the boss--- so the TV stayed off.
