Television

Sometime in the last few years, I've developed these perceived need to watch something while I eat.  When I was in school, despite how much homework I had, I would always justify watching a quick show on Hulu while I ate.  I just feel that I deserve it or that it's not stealing my time since I can't do much while I eat anyway. 

But sometimes on accident, one show turns into two, or three or four.  I have a record of watching back to back episodes of a show until there are no more or I get tired of it.  This is what I did with Lost earlier in the year.  I got to the current season, and I bored myself into stopping.

I know I have a tendency to get a little addicted, so often I just don't get cable or don't have a TV at all.  But there is this man that lives in my house, and he doesn't exactly agree with that philosophy.  So we have a TV & cable.  And an awesome Blu-Ray player that connects to Netflix. 

In fact, I thank & blame Netflix & Samsung for providing unlimited cheap access to online streaming of an amazing selection of movies, documentaries & television shows.

When I was pregnant, during the last month when I wasn't working & my mom & little sis were taking care of me, it got really bad.  We watched many movies, all of the Glee episodes, and I think 3 seasons of 24 in just one month.  There would have been more, but I got tired of 24, and I realized I should be mentally preparing myself for birth.

In beginning weeks of motherhood, it was even worse, because there was another activity besides eating where I couldn't be productive - breastfeeding.  In the later weeks, another activity - pumping.  This is when I started becoming friends with the DVR.  I love TV, but most of the time, I can't stand commercials.  I watched HGTV until I got tired of it.  There was this season's Design Star & The Next Food Network Star, and my favorite Top Chef (still going).  I watched all the old seasons of Top Chef that they aired.  I also pretty much love everything on Bravo.  

Then somehow, I stumbled upon Nip/Tuck on Netflix.  This show is what I would call the epitomy of a guilty pleasure.  Guilty because I feel that way watching this show with Isaiah in the room.  I'm sure that even though he won't remember these early days & years, somehow the dirty evilness of this show will be embedded into his being.  So I tempted this theory & watched it anyway.  Every season, minus a few that I had seen already years ago.

I just finished yesterday. 

Since I would like to be productive 95% of my time rather than 85%, and since I don't want my little one to develop an addiction to television like his mother, I now need to convince myself that I don't need to watch tv while I'm eating, or breastfeeding, or pumping.  Or after or before I do those things. 

Jewel, you're perfectly capable of reading an article from Entrepreneur while you eat your salad.

Think about your child.

Comments

[Janet (Mom)]

Sorry, my dear, I'm afraid you developed the habit of watching tv while eating while at home with us years ago. I still feel the urge especially at dinner time. In fact, the way I see to get out of the habit is to go out to eat. Yet not a very economical way to go...very sorry about your break-in. Naturally I hope all goes well with the insurance and all. It's odd we had our accident in the same week. We lost the trailer and most of it's contents in a matter of seconds, and thank God no lives or other vehicles (including our own) were affected. But we had no insurance on the trailer or its contents. Never even had considered it. Dumb. Yet we move on. Saved enough to continue being productive. We're survivors, right?