12 Habits Update

Last month's habit was to reduce the amount of TV we watch. I would have to say that I had a serious addiction going on - the minute I awoke to well after I asleep, the TV was on. And, let's be honest, there is not a lot of TV these days that would be suitable for very small children. There's a lot of murder and mayhem going on 24 hours a day, but not so many ponies and rainbows.

We started with turning the TV off after Handy Manny on Saturday morning. Momma is slow to wake up on the weekends and this has been a sanity saver. However, once breakfast is on the table, TV is no longer a friend. I don't know if I became more focused or the kids were calmer... but without TV, the day just seemed to smoother. There were less fights, less screaming and whining. Of course, it could also have been the fact that it was the warmest Feb. in the last decade and we could actually go outside and play, but I digress. Strangely, it just seemed to be better. Then we moved on to keeping the TV off on the week days until after dinner. The kids really didn't miss it (because they weren't watching anyways!) and the lack of background noise made for quieter playing. Of course, clingy, sick kids threw a wrench into that at the end of the month, but over all we (I) watched much less and no one died. Or was even maimed.

This month's habit is to exercise. Seriously. I must have been having an optimistic moment when I decided that, thinking about running Bloomsday or doing the Rhody Run. They always sound like good goals in December... not so much in March when I actually have to do something. Nonetheless, I will endeavor. I do actually have a Y membership so the kids can do swimming lessons... perhaps I should actually take advantage of it. Game on.