TV Fast-The Outcome

It has been 3 months since we had our TV Fast.  Here is what I learned:

I am dependent on electronics for babysitting and entertaining my children.  The fast was not only hard for the kids but hard for me.  I also missed sitting together as a family and watching something on a low key night.

My kids are more creative without electronics.  Elizabeth wrote more songs, Samantha and Maddie did more crafts, John Derek even worked on a few projects.

My kids are nicer without electronics.  There were not so many fights.  They were more willing to be around each other and got along.  We still had fights and so forth but overall things were more harmonious.  

My kids interacted more.  Elizabeth especially spent more time with us.  She was not always up in her room or somewhere watching her phone but was playing with the kids and asking how she could help.  Samantha also was more interactive and not so sedentary.

We played a lot more games together as a family.  We interacted more because we had to.

I was not able to do all that I wanted to do.  I was having to entertain a lot more and had a hard time getting my "stuff" done.

Michael is addicted to electronics.  He was hard to entertain and keep busy.  

Evenings could get crazy especially around dinner time.  And sometimes the kids would get so loud.

Now the true question is: Why do we have electronics back in our lives?

It is immediately easier.  We don't get the begging and the pleading and the frustration as much immediately.  Instead we get it after.  It is entertainment.  It is hard to not have.

How I wish we could be:

We would only have a small amount of time allowed on electronics.  Maybe 1/2 to 1 hour a day if at all.  We would have family movie nights occasionally but it would be when the whole family could watch and we would not be allowed to be on other devices during the movie.  I would have the strength to "entertain" my children and keep them busy and occupied.  We would go on more family walks and do more family activities.  

It is a continual battle.  Electronics are part of the world we live in.  The kids are always doing homework on them, they are used for communication, gathering knowledge, and entertainment.  There is a lot of fun out there.  But I worry about the waste of time.  The talents we are loosing because we are on electronics.

Since going back on electronics I have noticed Elizabeth is not around as much, Samantha is sitting in a chair playing Mindcraft, John Derek is hooked on You Tube, Maddie and Michael are fighting about what to watch and I have a hard time turning it off.

I do have faith in my Father in Heaven.  I know He will guide me and direct me to know what to do that our family may be saved in the Celestial Kingdom.  I will keep working with Him to find the best thing for our family.  And I WILL NOT EXPECT PERFECTION!! (That is a reminder to me, that there is not perfect way, there is no complete way, it will and must change with life.)