UO

eriannc22

Anyone up for UO's this week?

I have a good one. I have no interest in taking DS to see Santa. I would rather wait until he is old enough to know who Santa is. People keep asking me when I'm going to take him to get his picture with Santa. Why wait in line to hand baby off to some strange man who is probably just going to make your baby cry?

Drea926

I wasn't going to post this one in here because I didn't want to offend people, but @JRomeH found me in the Parenting UO and approved. :P

 

The idea of 2 under 2 sounds like a living hell.

I don't begrudge people who like to have their kids close together but it something I have no desire to do. All of my siblings are a lot older than I am so it's what I'm familiar with - that might be part of it.

kleigh926

We will not be teaching our kids that Santa is real. I don't see the point in telling children what is basically a lie and then potentially having their beliefs crushed one day when they're told it's just a story. We are religious and believe in other reasons for Christmas, so that's probably part of it.

somebuddiesgettingmarried

Drea926: I'm with you on that. My brother has "irish twins": DS1 born March 3, DS2 born Feb 28th the next year. I do not envy him! 

My UO: I started microwaving DDs bottles and I don't care. (Ok- its not very sexy or controversial but it's what i got!)

a13049

eriannc22 said:

Anyone up for UO's this week?

I have a good one. I have no interest in taking DS to see Santa. I would rather wait until he is old enough to know who Santa is. People keep asking me when I'm going to take him to get his picture with Santa. Why wait in line to hand baby off to some strange man who is probably just going to make your baby cry?

Yes! Me too! I think santas are dirty and gross, because lots of kids are dirty and gross. Which sounds horrible coming from an elementary teacher, but they have some pretty gross habits. I don't want to hand my baby to some gross old stranger, we are definitely skipping that.

Drea926 said:

. :P

 

The idea of 2 under 2 sounds like a living hell.

I don't begrudge people who like to have their kids close together but it something I have no desire to do. All of my siblings are a lot older than I am so it's what I'm familiar with - that might be part of it.

This too! To me, multiple kids spud horrible right now. We are one and done, not neccissarily by choice but we in good place about it now. But 2u2 sounds horrible to me. I don't judge anyone who chooses to do it, but no way would I choose that for myself.


My UO, we aren't buying Christmas presents for dd this year. She has no clue, she has 10 aunts, grandmas and great grandmas, plus others who all want to buy her stuff and she has too many toys and clothes already. We are doing some fun Pinterest activities with her over or Christmas break but not buying gifts.

wifeofadam

kleigh926 said:

We will not be teaching our kids that Santa is real. I don't see the point in telling children what is basically a lie and then potentially having their beliefs crushed one day when they're told it's just a story. We are religious and believe in other reasons for Christmas, so that's probably part of it.

I had no intention of doing it either, but DH wanted to.  We compromised and I feel like I have done a good job of separating the secular parts of Christmas and the religious parts.  To me the two parts are very different and don't take anything away from the other.

I disliked the whole Santa thing until my oldest was about four.  Then it became magical for me.  The joy it brings my children is priceless.  Every single day when our evangelizing elf moves around the house the amazement and giggles I hear warms my heart.

With that said, we have siblings who are not doing Santa for religious reasons.  It makes it tough during the holidays.  For example, last year my MIL had a Santa come to her holiday gathering.  My BIL's kids were so confused.  I'm just hoping that they don't spoil it for my kids this year.

wifeofadam

My UO - I hate shopping.  Like, I loathe it.  My sisters have always joked that I'm like a man.  Give me a list and let me go find everything on it and I can tolerate shopping, but if you expect me to browse around for hours just looking at stuff I start to go crazy.  It's so boring. 

And just stepping into a mall gives me hives - bright lights, sounds, too many people, the marketing, etc.  I don't understand how anyone finds that fun. 

And the billboards of half-naked women outside of Victoria's Secret irrationally upset me.

Puck1182

kleigh926 said:

We will not be teaching our kids that Santa is real. I don't see the point in telling children what is basically a lie and then potentially having their beliefs crushed one day when they're told it's just a story. We are religious and believe in other reasons for Christmas, so that's probably part of it.

Yeah, we're not even religious (DH is atheist and I'm such a cafeteria Catholic - pro gay marriage, pro contraception, etc), but we're probably going to introduce the whole Santa thing as just a fun tradition. Doesn't make sense to have her believe it and then feel betrayed when she finds out it isn't true. I'm more worried about her spilling the beans to other kids who do believe!

And I guess my UO (from a specifically Catholic/Christian standpoint really) is that the pagan roots of so many Christmas traditions (the trees, the candles and mistletoe and Yule log and such) actually speak to me more strongly because there's a more tangible connection to the winter solstice. It's, to quote the Doctor Who Christmas special from a few years ago, a celebration of being "halfway out of the dark." I mean, you could take that in the metaphorical sense and say it's true from a Christian perspective, but for some reason it just makes more sense to me to celebrate a literal return of light than to celebrate an event that almost certainly didn't take place during this time of year anyway. It just feels a little arbitrary.

But then, I was the kid on kindergarten who totally snarked all over the fact that we had an "everyone's birthday" celebration so kids with summer birthdays felt included. I was all like, "This is dumb, it CAN'T be EVERYONE'S birthday!" And then my teacher made me sit alone at my desk while everyone else sang and ate cake. So I have a long history of being inflexible about the timing of birthday celebrations, and apparently that extends to the baby Jesus. :-p

wifeofadam

Puck - I totally get the whole Pagan traditions thing.  When you realize how deep our modern celebrations are rooted in it, it's sort of mind-blowing.  Like, even the colors red and green, the wreaths, the tree, everything.  That's why I have problems with Christians who tell me I'm wrong for letting my kids dress up and celebrate secular Halloween because it's a Pagan tradition, but then they let their kids decorate a Christmas tree or hang a wreath on their door.  Everything we do sort of has its roots in Paganism, but you only give it power when you believe in it and worship as a Pagan, IMO.

As far as celebrating the return to light, I think that Christians do that at Easter.  If there is a high point in the Christian year, I would say it is Easter and not Christmas.  The whole message of Christianity is wrapped up in that celebration.  I feel like because the secular celebration of Christmas is so strong, that some people assume that Christmas must be THE celebration of the year for Christians, but I know that's not true for me and my family.  We put just as much, if not more, emphasis on our celebration of the Resurrection.

The wrong birthdate thing is easily explained.  There was a Pagan celebration around this time for the birthdate of one of their gods.  It made sense for the early church to replace all of those celebrations with Christian ones, so December 25 it was.  And since we don't know the exact date of Christ's birth, why not celebrate it then?  If you're going to just pick a random date, this one sort of makes sense.

kleigh926

As for the whole Santa thing, I'm not going to hide that part of Christmas from our kids; I love Santa, elves, and reindeer as much as the next person I just want to make it clear to them that he is not real, and that it's just a fun story we talk about at Christmastime. I want the focus of Christmas to center around Christ's birth, not Santa and presents.

@Drea926, right now I would totally agree with you about 2u2. DD is really giving me a run for my money this week and I feel completely exhausted and exasperated. Having two kids so young seems daunting!

PhieryBFly

+adamwife+ said:

Puck - I totally get the whole Pagan traditions thing.  When you realize how deep our modern celebrations are rooted in it, it's sort of mind-blowing.  Like, even the colors red and green, the wreaths, the tree, everything.  That's why I have problems with Christians who tell me I'm wrong for letting my kids dress up and celebrate secular Halloween because it's a Pagan tradition, but then they let their kids decorate a Christmas tree or hang a wreath on their door.  Everything we do sort of has its roots in Paganism, but you only give it power when you believe in it and worship as a Pagan, IMO.

As far as celebrating the return to light, I think that Christians do that at Easter.  If there is a high point in the Christian year, I would say it is Easter and not Christmas.  The whole message of Christianity is wrapped up in that celebration.  I feel like because the secular celebration of Christmas is so strong, that some people assume that Christmas must be THE celebration of the year for Christians, but I know that's not true for me and my family.  We put just as much, if not more, emphasis on our celebration of the Resurrection.

The wrong birthdate thing is easily explained.  There was a Pagan celebration around this time for the birthdate of one of their gods.  It made sense for the early church to replace all of those celebrations with Christian ones, so December 25 it was.  And since we don't know the exact date of Christ's birth, why not celebrate it then?  If you're going to just pick a random date, this one sort of makes sense.

Very rarely is there anything truly new in human society anymore... It all came from somewhere so I kinda just shrug it off and take for how it's used now.

Puck1182

+adamwife+ See, I was thinking "halfway out of the dark" because the birth of Jesus was the event that made the Resurrection possible in the first place. Then Easter would be completely out of the dark, of that makes sense? I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it. ;-)

And I stand by my birthday opinion. It's still arbitrary. Doesn't mean I think it's wrong to celebrate it then, it's just that it makes about as much sense to me now as "everyone's birthday" did in kindergarten. Especially since Christmas was barely even celebrated until relatively recently. It only started as a way to encourage pagans to convert to Christianity, but like you say, Easter is really the biggie in terms of actual importance.

Of course then there are all the pagan traditions in that one as well. I wonder if your friends who have issues with your kids celebrating a secular Halloween let their kids go on Easter eggs hunts and such? ;-)

musicalmama5

We're going to do Santa for sure! DH was slightly opposed, but it didn't take much arm-twisting to get him to come around. It's just too fun!

My UO (and I totally might get flamed for this): I really really really dislike putting babies (well, all kids, but especially babies) in front of the TV for ANY amount of time. Sure it might make things easier for that 20 minutes, but you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of NEEDING to use the TV to get your kid to stay out of your hair for 20 minutes. I'd rather put the time and effort in now and then have a kid who knows how to entertain himself creatively and imaginatively in the future. And I REALLY dislike having babies/kids eat in front of the TV. Mindlessly shoveling food into their mouths while they aren't even paying attention to how much and what they're eating?? No wonder we have so many food issues in this country!

*stepping off my soap box*

Funnurse81

On Christian holidays, most Christians don't know this but even the name Easter is rooted in paganism. So are Easter bunnies and Easter eggs.

kelly321

Perhaps my UO is that I am glad we had 2u2 and wish we could do it again (have to have at least 2 years before LO3 because of medical reasons)! I think those of you who get out of the night-waking, baby-carrying, stranger-anxiety phase only to start it all over again are nuts.

I know that's probably not an actual UO because there are plenty of 2u2 women on this board

wifeofadam

kelly321 said:

 I think those of you who get out of the night-waking, baby-carrying, stranger-anxiety phase only to start it all over again are nuts.

This is where I am.  I think if I ever stopped nursing or being pregnant or started sleeping well I would never turn back, so I'm just getting it out of my system while the desire is still there!

Felicity86

musicalmama5 said:

We're going to do Santa for sure! DH was slightly opposed, but it didn't take much arm-twisting to get him to come around. It's just too fun!

My UO (and I totally might get flamed for this): I really really really dislike putting babies (well, all kids, but especially babies) in front of the TV for ANY amount of time. Sure it might make things easier for that 20 minutes, but you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of NEEDING to use the TV to get your kid to stay out of your hair for 20 minutes. I'd rather put the time and effort in now and then have a kid who knows how to entertain himself creatively and imaginatively in the future. And I REALLY dislike having babies/kids eat in front of the TV. Mindlessly shoveling food into their mouths while they aren't even paying attention to how much and what they're eating?? No wonder we have so many food issues in this country!

*stepping off my soap box*

Yes! I'm not introducing tv until my twins are at least 2. I definitely thought this was the norm but people look at me like I have two heads when I tell them the babies don't watch tv. I was really surprised...

Felicity86

PeanutR1 said:

On the TV ing, I don't park her in front of it, but I'm not going to sit in a silent house all day. I would go crazy. I was reading somewhere that the negative effects of TV watching under 2 are negated when you take income level and education level of the parents into account. So I'm not worried about it. Anecdotally, DH watched a lot of TV as a kid, and he's way smart. Like freaky smart. Like, remembers episodes of Sesame street from when he was 3. Then there's my SIL, who takes great pride in boasting that she wasn't exposed to pop culture and didn't have cable or air conditioning. She's strange and not very smart at all. But then again, so are her parents. So there's that. Just saying I think SO many other factors are in play, that having the tv on doesn't really worry me.

I don't mind parents who have it on in the background, like a radio. I'm surprised by the ones who let their babies watch shows or turn it on specifically for the baby. I feel like I'm pretty lenient about most things, but I can't imagine letting a baby watch tv.

Puck1182

PeanutR1 said:

On the TV ing, I don't park her in front of it, but I'm not going to sit in a silent house all day. I would go crazy. I was reading somewhere that the negative effects of TV watching under 2 are negated when you take income level and education level of the parents into account. So I'm not worried about it. Anecdotally, DH watched a lot of TV as a kid, and he's way smart. Like freaky smart. Like, remembers episodes of Sesame street from when he was 3. Then there's my SIL, who takes great pride in boasting that she wasn't exposed to pop culture and didn't have cable or air conditioning. She's strange and not very smart at all. But then again, so are her parents. So there's that. Just saying I think SO many other factors are in play, that having the tv on doesn't really worry me.

Huh, I didn't know the thing about income level and education level.  Interesting.  We kind of take a happy medium approach.  Like, we will watch TV while DD is in the room and playing on her own or just having quiet snuggle time with one of us.  And we will very occasionally watch an episode of Fraggle Rock or Sesame Street together because I want her to grow up loving Jim Henson as much as I did, but I've never just put something on for her to watch on her own.  I think TV is like most other things: everything in moderation. :-)

wholenewworld

My UO is that I don't like massages, pedicures, manicures, or any spa treatments. It hurts and it's so not relaxing. I got a massage this summer because I had a gift card and I had vertigo for a week afterward. No thanks!

Myzticsunshine

My UO- I woul actually have to disagree with the no TV. I feel like a lot of parents shun the idea of letting kids watch TV ( none the less babies) more than they agree with it these days, but I have to admit,I even kind of get into some of these kid shows. Especially peg+cat. and I'll tell you what, some of them are super educational. I've even learned a thing or two. My nephew who is just turning two was basically raised by my grandpa and a tv, and has a vocabulary and general understanding of things that I hardly ever see in other children his age. I definately doubt it slows any growth in knowledge. And no it does not ruin your eye sight. So I don't see the big deal with it. By the time the babies today get to be a little older they'll be too busy on their cell phones to even care about TV. (Kids with cellphones are a personal pet peeve but that's hardly a UO)

I feel like a lot of moms, especially "Internet fact moms" as I'd like to call them, over coddle their kids too often thanks to webMD and a load of other sites that might as well suggest bubble wrapping your kid completely

Now I do think there should be a proportional amount of one-on-one no tv interaction time too, with le baby a parent, but ya. TV can be pretty good. Especially when you bay need to get thkngs done.

tamarar5

I have the TV on in the bracketing a lot of the day, but I don't turn on programs specifically for the baby. C watched mickey mouse clubhouse and Sophia the first but really that's it.

wifeofadam

If I never used the TV I would go crazy.  Maybe nto so much when there was only one - but now that there are multiple kids, the younger ones watch it by default. 

I feel like as with anything, there just needs to be a balance.  Should the TV babysit your kids all day?  No.  Is it OK to let your kids watch a video every now and then when you need to get something done, you're not feeling well, the kids aren't feeling well, or they just need to wind down?  I think so.  I wouldn't have lasted through the last two pregnancies and morning sickness without the TV.  (FTR, we don't have cable or anything, but the kids have quite the collection of DVDs.)

Also, the TV can be valuable educationally.  Not the mind-numbing silly stuff on Cartoon Network, but I am 100% honest when I say that the Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD taught my oldest son his letter sounds at age two.  I think if you use it wisely, you can find value in the TV as a teaching tool.

And I agree with PP who talked about the studies regarding income level and education.  Parking your kid in front of cartoons all day is going to turn their brain to mush after too long.  But, a little bit here and there balanced with reading lots of books to your kids and providing them with other outlets for creativity and exploration is going to even it all out.

Can you tell I'm team (parent-controlled, in moderation) TV?

Drea926

+adamwife+ said:

If I never used the TV I would go crazy.  I feel like as if with anything, there just needs to be a balance.  Should the TV babysit your kids all day?  No.  Is it OK to let your kids watch a video every now and then when you need to get something done, you're not feeling well, the kids aren't feeling well, or they just need to wind down?  I think so.  I wouldn't have lasted through the last two pregnancies and morning sickness without the TV.  (FTR, we don't have cable or anything, but the kids have quite the collection of DVDs.)

Also, the TV can be valuable educationally.  Not the mind-numbing silly stuff of Cartoon Network, but I am 100% honest when I say that the Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD taught my oldest son his letter sounds at age two.  I think if you use it wisely, you can find value in the TV as a teaching tool.

And I agree with PP who talked about the studies regarding income level and education.  Parking your kid in front of cartoons all day is going to turn their brain to mush after too long.  But, a little bit here and there balanced with reading lots of books to your kids and providing them with other outlets for creativity and exploration is going to even it all out.

Can you tell I'm team (parent-controlled, in moderation) TV?

I agree 100%.

wifeofadam

I forgot to add to the above - I'm much more concerned with overall "screen time" than I am specifically TV.  I find that the amount of television my kids want to watch is very minimal compared to the amount of begging they do to play things like video games.  Some kids I know spend every waking moment staring at their parents' tablets or playing video games, even watching movies every time they are in the car for short trips to the store. 

It can become an addiction and I've seen it in my own children.  We have to make sure to limit video games.  It's actually a really effective disciplinary tool for my boys - they get an alloted amount of time for video games each night (usually 45 minutes or so) and if they don't do their chores or school work or even take a nap (this is how you get a six year old to still nap ) no video games when Daddy gets home from work!!  At least 2-3 nights a week we end up taking away that privilege for one reason or another.

TarheelMama202

This isn't an unpopular opinion, but it is an unpopular fact:

We don't have cable, by choice.

So, watching TV isn't actually an option for our kid. We listen to music and read a lot of books. 

Drea926

We don't have cable either! We do Netflix, Hulu and Amazon though.

holly321

We partial cosleep. Every morning when my alarm goes off at 5, DS wakes up too. So while I shower, he either goes in the bouncer or pack and play, and I turn the tv on for him. I feel bad putting him in a room by himself.

DublinMama

This has been bugging me for days lol. DH's cousin just bought her DD an ipad mini for Christmas. She is two. As in, 24 months old. I think that is the epitome of ridiculousness. And anytime she takes any criticism or feedback for the parenting decisions that she broadcasts all over FB, she claims people are just "jealous." Nope, not jealous. I truly think that is an ignorant choice that just puts another overstimulated, underdeveloped kid in a classroom in 8 years who doesn't know what to do with herself unless she is being immediately gratified in some capacity. I know all the fabu learning apps you can get for young kids on tablets. You know what else is a great app for a two year old? A piece of paper and some crayolas.

holly321

And on the Christian/ Santa/ pagan discussion.... I don't see a problem with doing things with a pagan root, as long as you aren't doing them For those reasons. Also, we were raised to believe that Santa was full of love and giving, and to me, that is good Christian qualities. And I think it makes the time of year so magical for small kids. And about going to see Santa, last year, DD came in 3rd for a most scared of Santa contest.

TarheelMama202

DublinMama said:

This has been bugging me for days lol. DH's cousin just bought her DD an ipad mini for Christmas. She is two. As in, 24 months old. I think that is the epitome of ridiculousness. And anytime she takes any criticism or feedback for the parenting decisions that she broadcasts all over FB, she claims people are just "jealous." Nope, not jealous. I truly think that is an ignorant choice that just puts another overstimulated, underdeveloped kid in a classroom in 8 years who doesn't know what to do with herself unless she is being immediately gratified in some capacity. I know all the fabu learning apps you can get for young kids on tablets. You know what else is a great app for a two year old? A piece of paper and some crayolas.

Round of applause, @DublinMama. You speak the truth. Again, reiterating the fact that we would be real life friends. You + Me + @Drea926 and some wine. 

=D>

Drea926

I feel the same way about kids and fancy phones. The amount of students I have with iPhones is ridiculous!

holly321

DublinMama said:

This has been bugging me for days lol. DH's cousin just bought her DD an ipad mini for Christmas. She is two. As in, 24 months old. I think that is the epitome of ridiculousness. And anytime she takes any criticism or feedback for the parenting decisions that she broadcasts all over FB, she claims people are just "jealous." Nope, not jealous. I truly think that is an ignorant choice that just puts another overstimulated, underdeveloped kid in a classroom in 8 years who doesn't know what to do with herself unless she is being immediately gratified in some capacity. I know all the fabu learning apps you can get for young kids on tablets. You know what else is a great app for a two year old? A piece of paper and some crayolas.

Friends of ours have their son one for his first birthday. It was ridiculous. I will admit, dd does occasionally play with mine but she has limited use.

MalRiggs

DublinMama said:

This has been bugging me for days lol. DH's cousin just bought her DD an ipad mini for Christmas. She is two. As in, 24 months old. I think that is the epitome of ridiculousness. And anytime she takes any criticism or feedback for the parenting decisions that she broadcasts all over FB, she claims people are just "jealous." Nope, not jealous. I truly think that is an ignorant choice that just puts another overstimulated, underdeveloped kid in a classroom in 8 years who doesn't know what to do with herself unless she is being immediately gratified in some capacity. I know all the fabu learning apps you can get for young kids on tablets. You know what else is a great app for a two year old? A piece of paper and some crayolas.

as normal we see eye to eye on this one. For the record my 8yr old doesn't have a phone or tablet, but did get some very cool books and science toys for his birthday.

wifeofadam

More of a confession - We eat in front of the TV once a week for dinner and probably once a week for lunch.  My kids love it.  It's a treat for good behavior.  Usually on Friday night DH will rent them a kid movie on the way home from work and I prepare something that isn't messy so we can all eat out there together.



I don't feel like this is contributing to any food issues with my kids.  They are all a healthy weight and eat a great, diverse diet.  As with anything, moderation is key.  We don't eat in front of the TV every night, but it does make for a fun Friday family night.

octobermama87

Drea926 said:

show previous quotes

+adamwife+ said:

If I never used the TV I would go crazy.  I feel like as if with anything, there just needs to be a balance.  Should the TV babysit your kids all day?  No.  Is it OK to let your kids watch a video every now and then when you need to get something done, you're not feeling well, the kids aren't feeling well, or they just need to wind down?  I think so.  I wouldn't have lasted through the last two pregnancies and morning sickness without the TV.  (FTR, we don't have cable or anything, but the kids have quite the collection of DVDs.)

Also, the TV can be valuable educationally.  Not the mind-numbing silly stuff of Cartoon Network, but I am 100% honest when I say that the Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD taught my oldest son his letter sounds at age two.  I think if you use it wisely, you can find value in the TV as a teaching tool.

And I agree with PP who talked about the studies regarding income level and education.  Parking your kid in front of cartoons all day is going to turn their brain to mush after too long.  But, a little bit here and there balanced with reading lots of books to your kids and providing them with other outlets for creativity and exploration is going to even it all out.

Can you tell I'm team (parent-controlled, in moderation) TV?

I agree 100%.

So do I. Well said @+adamwife+

musicalmama5

If TV or movies are a treat, I think that's great. I just can't get behind using it as a go-to method for entertaining your kids or keeping them out of your hair. My parents had five kids and we never watched TV. It is possible. 

And I don't even see it as being extreme or overly protective either. We have one TV (with a Roku that we have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon on) and it's in our room. The rooms in which DS plays don't have a TV so it's never a temptation for me to turn it on for him. 

And I can't STAND when TV's are on for background noise!!! It drives me batty! Turn it on if you're going to watch something, but when you're not watching it, turn the damn thing off!

But I think the main reason I hate TV so much is because of the commercials. For this reason, movies are cool in my book. 

But yeah, it's a UO for sure.

Rynleigh

My UO: I really don't give a damn about how much "screen time" my older kids (11yrs and 6yrs) get. I really just don't. They self-regulate, they get all their chores done, they get their homework done. They also watch TV, play videogames, go outside, hang with friends, and my 11yr old does fanart, in MS Paint: 

She has now convinced me to allow her to transfer into a graphic arts class at school when the semester changes, and I'll give her all the screen time in the world if it means she can make a career out of animation and actually do something she loves and make money at it. 

SidraJedi

I don't own/want a microwave. I don't own/want a tv. I don't have/want cable or Netflix (but i kinda want that) etc. but I do love movies!

We have a projector connected to a DVD/VCR player and we watch movies sometimes. Often DD is awake and playing nearby. She doesn't watch the movies with us but one day she will and whatever she is watching will be in the background if we have another baby.

I find the idea of sitting DD in front of a baby Einstein video repugnant. I doubt that when I have another that I will suddenly feel baby Einstein is a great parenting tool but I can see myself letting my older child(ren) watching a kids movie or tv show DVD and the baby seeing the screen by proxy. That makes sense.

Also, only one kid in an elementary class without an electronic device??? It's enough to make me want to be Amish.

That's my UO; sometimes I fantasize about joining the Amish!

stacrb98

I have no interest in taking DS to see Santa. I would rather wait until he is old enough to know who Santa is. People keep asking me when I'm going to take him to get his picture with Santa. 

This is us too! 

OU: I currently don't understand baby fever.... I always picture two or three kids close in age!  I sometimes wish DD was small again but currently have no desire to expand our family! This makes me nervous because I never pictured us as one and done! 

jenniferraborn

No cable here....Netflix and Hulu it is :-) And I feel you on the video game time...I have a nephew that plays way too much IMO. We however had a foster son that was 7-8 and we made earning video game time a game with school work since he was very behind academically. i.e. If you can get these math facts you'll earn 15 min game time etc etc. That was the best thing to motivate him to practice and SOME game time isn't bad I don't think. And since I was the only one that bought a game I could manage the content. Same with movies etc. Everything in moderation :-) As long as kids are interacted with etc I don't think the TV being on will hurt them.