Media Fast
The porch construction crew knocked out our internet early Saturday when they put on the roof next to our sattellite dish. Oh bother. . . Even with the distractions of the new porch and furniture, an early 21st century four and six year old deprived of their favorite TV shows can be quite the dramatic presentation. I have taken periodic media fasts since the bad old days of printed media and was able to shrug off the inconvenience, but the resident digi-kids werenae prepared for the shock. The good news is that they survived, perhaps with long-term benefit. We never did get around to turning on any televisions last night. There really is an analog world outside **The Box**. Brain synapses really do work without constant digital input. Who'd'a thunk ^it^? ? ?
We got Big Sis's dance classes back on line yesterday. The classes fell off-line after the Christmas Recital fiasco, followed by Winter Vacation with the other grandparents, followed by the chaos of settling in to the new house. Yesterday's logistics of picking up kids from school and making it to dance class on time called for the "Divide and Conquer" approach of Hubby picking up Big Bro while the sisters and I made dance class. It worked dandy enough for N-wording (Normalizing). Both sisters were thrilled to see the familiar waiting room and dance studio again. At one and four years old, familiarity is a very big deal to them. Little Sis enjoys the toys and social interaction of the waiting room while Big Sis learns how to stand on one leg with her tutu buddies. Meanwhile, Big Bro got some top shelf quality time with his beloved Gampy. May the development never end.
N-wording (Normalizing) remains a primary focus between Hubs and I. Healing the chaos of grief and the year of protective custody is far from done for both the children and custodians. The points of predictability feel like they are sorely needed by all five of us. My Gam-sense says they are even critical to the healing process. Pay attention. Buttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaa. . . Obsessing isnae ever good. The more important the phenom, the more important it be to sing along with 38 Special. "Hold on loosely." So opineth The Arf. Any excuse will do for singing along to a great song. "If you cling too tightly, you're gonna lose ^it^, you're gonna lose control." Rip it, Jeffy. . .
Replies
Sounds like things are starting to fall into place now Arfie. Enjoy the singalong.
When we first moved to Germany, my youngest went through withdrawals from her favorite shows (she was 3) and for two weeks we were holed up in a tiny hotel on post in beginning of winter. Fortunately AFN did have a kids channel and the little one was also content with watching cartoons in German even if she didn’t understand a word of it.
Her primary withdrawals was from her My Little Ponies. A single room that share both beds and kitchenette isn’t toddler friendly. We luckily had a park outside the hotel but it was a bit cold for much play. Still she adapted like a pro.
She gave up on her favorite kid shows in favor of listening to music on VEVO channel while we played with ponies even after we got our house. Or she relied on her favorite movies (Shrek, Spirit, My Little Ponies, Road to El Dorado, etc). We only went through 5 copies of some of those in those years, lol. But that’s the good thing about children, they adapt and find means to amuse themselves. Sadly that doesn’t mean we don’t have to deal with some whining.
Listening, empathizing, and sending support.
Hugs & love Arfie
I don't have a tv when I go to Mexico, arfie. What's more, my US cell phone plan doesn't work there, either. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to live "off the grid" every time I go back. Over this past winter break, I didn't watch tv nor text nor answer a phone call. I had wifi to use for connecting here to DS PTSD and that was that.
I know that for some people nowadays, that would be crazy, but I was born and raised before cell phones and the Internet. So for me it was a refreshing return to seeing the world again through my childhood eyes and being present in it once more.